The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c13.s12: The Lyrist Type
The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c13.s12
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The Lyrist Type
c13.s12.1
The Lyrist type of Kumāragupta was altogether unknown before the discovery of the Bayana hoard; it also contains only two of its specimens. The type obviously represents an effort to revive the Lyrist type of Samudragupta. The obverse shows the king seated on a high-backed couch and playing on a lute placed on his lap, as on the prototype; the legend is also the same, with only a change of the name, viz. *Mahārājādhirāja-śrī-Kumāraguptaḥ* (Pl. XXIII. 35). The reverse, however, shows considerable departure from the prototype. It no doubt shows the goddess or queen facing to left. She is, however, seated on a couch like the king on the obverse, and not on a wicker-stool as on the coins of Samudragupta. Her left hand rests on the couch and is not holding a cornucopiæ as on the prototype. The right hand does not hold a *pāśa*, but a flower; the lady is smelling it. The legend *Śrī-Kumāragupta* (Pl. XXIV. 61) is on the left and not on the right.
c13.s12.2
In Hindu iconography, a goddess is not usually shown as sitting on a couch at ease as on the present coin. It appears more probable that the lady is the queen of Kumāragupta, smelling a flower while sitting at ease in the palace hall, perhaps listening to the music of her husband.
c13.s12.3
We now describe the coin illustrated.
c13.s12.4
Gold; .75"; 125.3 grains; *B.H.*, Pl. XXXI. 4.
c13.s12.5
*Obv*: King, nimbate, wearing earrings, necklace and armlets, sitting on a straight-backed couch (*paryaṅkikā*), two sides of whose back are clearly visible; r. leg folded on the couch; l. leg over the r. one and hanging below. Fingers of the king's r. hand are playing over a four stringed lute placed on the lap; the l. hand is over the lute, its fingers gesticulating appreciation. Legend beginning at I, *Mahārājādhirāja-śrī-Kumāragupta(ḥ)*. Letters *Kumāra* are under the couch and *gupta* at XI. The first letter is just behind the king's head above the back of the couch.
c13.s12.6
*Rev:* Within dotted border, Goddess (or queen?), with earrings, necklace and bangles, sitting on a couch with straight back. Two sides of the couch, as also its four legs of the *ṭapḍār* design, are clearly visible. R. leg of the goddess is folded under the couch and the l. leg is hanging down in its front. R. hand of the goddess is bent up and holds a flower of long stalk; the l. hand rests on the couch. Legend on the l., *Kumāragupta*. The second and third letters are doubtful, but they can hardly have been any thing other than *ma* and *ra* respectively.
c13.s12.7
(Pl. XIV. 5)