The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c13.s4: Tiger-Slayer Type
The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c13.s4
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Tiger-Slayer Type
c13.s4.1
Tiger-slayer type was one of the rare types of Samudragupta; we find Kumāragupta reviving it in his reign. The resemblance to the prototype is fairly close on the obverse; the king faces left wearing a similar head-dress and shoots the tiger by arrow; there is a crescent standard between the two. The wording of the legend is also similar; Kumāragupta only adds the word *śrīmān* in the beginning and *bala* in the middle, the new legend thus assuming the form, *Śrīmān vyāghraybalaparākramaḥ* (Pl. XXII. 35); ‘the glorious (king), whose strength and valour is like that of a tiger.’ On Samudragupta’s coins the entire legend was on the right; here the word *śrīmān* is always on the left. The *anusvāra* above the letter *mā* is, however, not to be seen on any specimen.
c13.s4.2
The reverse is influenced partly by that of the Tiger-slayer type of Samudragupta and partly by the Horseman type of Kumāragupta I. Goddess is standing on a crocodile as on Samudragupta’s type, but she is feeding a peacock, as on the Horseman type of the present emperor. As she is not seated on a wicker stool, she is naturally seen considerably bent down while feeding the peacock, The presence of the peacock necessitates the removal of the crescent standard, which figured also on the reverse of the Tiger-slayer type of Samudragupta.
c13.s4.3
The reverse legend is an adaptation from and an improvement over that of Samudragupta. It reads ‘*Kumāragupto’dhirājā*’; (Pl. XXIV. 62); ‘the emperor Kumāragupta,’ the word *adhirājā* being obviously more appropriate than *rājā* for an emperor. The change in wording here seems to be deliberate.¹
c13.s4.4
¹ The term *adhirājā* denotes the supreme position; cf. *Himālayo nāma nagādhirājaḥ*. Smith’s view that this term would indicate that the present coin-type may have been issued early in the reign of Kumāragupta (*J.R.A.S.*, 1893, p. 124) is untenable.
c13.s4.5
Kumāragupta’s Tiger-slayer type, which was once confused with his Lion-slayer type,² is artistically much superior to the latter. The attitude of the king is energetic and determined. The posture and expression of the goddess on the reverse is just like that of a modern lady of fashion feeding her pet. As the king is shown facing left, it was inevitable that he should be shown as drawing the bow by the left hand; whether the artist's intention was to show him as ambidextrous, it is difficult to say.
c13.s4.6
² See *J.R.A.S.*, 1889, p. 108.
c13.s4.7
The coins of this type are usually divided into two varieties, variety A consisting of those whieh have the letter *Ku* in the field and variety B, which are without this latter. The coins of the variety A are more numerous than those of the variety B; the Bayana hoard contained 33 coins of the former variety as against only three of the latter.
c13.s4.8
Vast majority of the coins of this type are issued to the weight standard of 127 grains; there are, however, a few pieces following the lighter standard of 121 and 124 grains.¹
c13.s4.9
¹ B.M.C., G.D., Pl. XV. 2. weighs only 120. 2 grains and Pl. XV. 1. weighs 123.8 grains.
c13.s4.10
We now give a general description of this type.
c13.s4.11
*Obv:* King standing l., wearing waist cloth, jewelry and head-dress, shooting with bow held in r. hand and strung by the l., tiger which falls backwards on l.; r. foot of the king is trampling on the beast. Crescent-topped standard with fillct on l. *Ku* in the field in variety A only. Legend, commencing at II, *Śrīmam vyāghrabalaparākramaḥ* (Pl. XXII. 35).
c13.s4.12
*Rev:* Goddess standing to l. on crocodile, holding a lotus of long stalk behind her in l. hand and feeding peacock with fruits by her r. hand; symbol on l. Legend, *Kumāragupto'dhirājā*.²
c13.s4.13
² This word was once read by Hoernle as *rājñaḥ* (*J.R.A.S.*, 1893, p. 123). The last letter is, however, *ja* and not *jñaḥ*. Grammatical construction also shows that *Kumāraguptaḥ* in the nominative cannot be followed by *rājñaḥ* in the genitive.
c13.s4.14
(Pl. XXIV. 62)
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(Wi h *Ku* in the field)¹
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¹ B.M.C.,G.D., Pl. XIV. 15-17; XV. 1-4; *J.R.A.S.*, 1889, Pl. III. 5; *I.M.C.* I. Pl. XVI. 4; *N.Ch.*, 1910, Pl. XV. 15.
c13.s4.17
(1) Gold; .8"; 126.9 grains; *B.H.*, Pl. XXVII. 1. *Obv*: As described above. The crescent top of the banner looks like a trident above the head of the tiger. Legend at X, *Śrama*, from II to V, *vyāghrabala-parākrama*. *Ku* with a crescent at the top under the l. arm of the king. *Rev*: Posture of the goddess is awkward; lotus is clearly visible behind her head. Symbol on l.; legend on r., *Kumāragupto'dhirājā*. Almost all medial vowels are clear. (Pl. XII. 11)
c13.s4.18
(2) Gold; .8"; 126.3 grains; *B.H.*, Pl. XXII. 5. *Obv*: As above. King's body shows tense action. *Ku* with crescent under l. arm. Staff and top of the crescent banner clearly visible. Legend at X, *Śrīmam*, at III, *ghra*. *Rev*: As above. Snout of the crocodile is clearly visible. Lotus is not well engraved. Symbol on l. Legend, *Kumāragupto'dhirājā*. (Pl. XII. 12)
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Variety B
c13.s4.20
(Without *Ku* in the field)²
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² B.M.C.,G.D., Pl. XIV. 14.
c13.s4.22
(3) Gold; .8"; 124 grains; *B.H.*, Pl. XXIII. 13. *Obv*: As above. King's head is bent forward in determined action. Legend at X, *Śrīmam*; from II, *vyāghrabalaparākra*, mostly blurred. There is a letter like *ta* or *bha* before the initial letter *Śrī* of the legend, the presence of which cannot be explained. It may be the top of the crescent banner, crudely engraved. *Rev:* Head and snout of the crocodile are clearly visible, as also the lotus with its stalk, Symbol on l. Legend on r., *Kumāragupto'dhirājā*.
c13.s4.23
(Pl. XII. 13)
Cites (1)
- Kumārasaṃbhava — Kālidāsa, Sanskrit