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The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c14.s1: Western Indian Silver Coinage

The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c14.s1

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Western Indian Silver Coinage

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The silver coins issued by Kumāragupta I for the use of the Western Provinces continued to be a close copy of the Kshatrapa prototype. They hardly differ in general characteristics from the silver coinage of Chandragupta II. Traces of what was once a legible Greek legend occur on some varieties, but are dispensed with on others. The reverse, as a general rule, continues to have the device of Garuḍa, usually with the pellet or group of seven dots in the field. The Kshatrapa device of Hill occurs on no specimens.

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We have fairly reliable information about the findspots of the silver coins of Kumāragupta I. The coins of the Western type are usually found in Kathiawar and Gujarat. Valabhi, Morvi, Junagadh, Ahmadabad and Kaira are among the known findspots of these coins. But the findspots of all the coins found in Gujarat and Kathiawar have, however, not been noted with sufficient accuracy to enable us to determine the districts of the different classes and varieties. Sometimes, however, they are found outside Gujarat and Kathiawar.

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A big hord of 1395 silver coins of Kumāragupta was found at Samand in Satara district; a small one of 13 pieces was found at Elichpur in Berar. Neither of these places was, however, included in the Gupta empire. The presence of Gupta coins at these places is probably due to their being imported by traders, captains or learned Brāhmaṇas.

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Smith divided¹ the coins of the Western type into two varieties, variety A consisting of the coins with the legend *Paramabhāgavata-Mahārājādhirāja-śrī-Kumāragupta-Mahendrāditya*, and variety B, where the title *Mahārājādhirāja* of the above legend was abbreviated into *Rājādhirāja*. While recognising that the local tradition reported by Watson to the effect that Kumāragupta served as a viceroy of Kathiawar under his father was unreliable, Smith still suggested that the coins with the shorter title *Rājādhirāja* may have been issued by him when a viceroy. There is, however, no sufficient difference in the import of the two titles to justify this conjecture. In the Mathurā inscription, dated in G. E. 61,² we find that the title *Rājādhirāja* is used for Chandragupta II, even when he was the ruling paramount emperor. Smith has also admitted that the features of the king on the coins with the longer legend are usually younger than those on the coins with the shorter legend,³ and so it is hardly possible to argue that the latter were issued earlier in the life of Kumāragupta, when he was a viceroy under his father. The coinage by the heir-apparent is unknown to Hindu tradition and so it is difficult to accept Smith's theory in this connection.

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¹ J.R.A.S., 1889, p. 123.

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² E.I., Vol. XXI. p. 8; Sircar, p. 269.

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³ I.M.C., I, p. 115.

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The classification of these silver coins by the difference of the title used, as adopted by Smith, is not very scientific. Mr. Allan has classified them according to their fabric; coins of large size are differentiated, from those of the small one, coins of good workmanship from those of indifferent workmanship, and so on. This classification also is not very scientific; for it is difficult to state where exactly careful execution gives way to the careless one. Some of the coins of Class III, which are described by Mr. Allan as of small and thick fabric, are as large as those of Class I, which are described as of thin and large fabric.¹ As however it is not easy to suggest any better method of classification, we propose to follow Mr. Allan in the classification as suggested by him in his *Catalogue of the Coins of the Gupta Dynasties*.

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¹ B.M.C., G.D., Intro., pp. xciv-xcv. Cf. Pl. XVII. 10-12. with Pl. XVII, 5-6.

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We now proceed to describe these coins.

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The coins of this class bear the closest resemblance to the silver coinage of Chandragupta II and may be presumed to be their immediate successors, probably issued from the same mint. As, however, the find-spots of the coins are not noted, we cannot identify the mint; but most probably it was in Kathiawar, where the Kshatrapa numismatic influence may be presumed to have been the strongest. Class I of the silver coinage of Skandagupta also shows these features and may have been issued from the same mint or district. The nose, the moustaches and the collar of the bust on the coins of the class are in close imitation of those on the later Kshatrapa coins; see Pl. XVI. 1-2. Traces of corrupt Greek letters also make their appearance on the obverse. The date was intended to be given behind the king's bust, where sometimes the word, *varsha* (year) is to be seen. The year, however, is rarely given. The reverse shows Garuḍa, the imperial insignia (*lāñchhana*) of the dynasty. There is a cluster of dots above it to right. The legend is *Paramabhāgavata-mahārājādhirāja-śrī* Kumāragupta-Mahendrādityaḥ¹ (Pl. XXV. 8).

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¹ This legend is obviously adapted from that on class I of the silver coinage of Chandragupta II, with the necessary change in name and *biruda*.

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Four varieties of this class may be distinguished. Coins of variety A are thin and large. Coins of variety B are slightly thicker and smaller and use rounded forms of the letters *ma* and *va*. Variety C, like variety B, is smaller in size than variety A, but it does not use the rounded forms of *ma* and *va*, as does the variety B. On two coins of this variety (B.M.C., G.D., Nos. 304-5) the star is stated to be below Garuḍa; these coins, however, are not illustrated in that Catalogue. Variety D gives the year of issue behind the head, where we have the word *varsha* followed by a numeral which is taken to be 100. This symbol, however, is not clear. The legend on this variety has a genitive ending. Coins of varieties A and B are common; variety C is known from only three coins, and variety D from a single specimen.

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The average size of the coins of variety A is ·6" and that of the varieties B and C, ·55". In rare cases the weight is as low as 24·1 grains; but the average weight of all the four varieties is about 30 grains. Several well preserved coins weigh about 33 grains, which seems to have been the intended weight of these pieces. It corresponds to the weight of the Kshatrapa silver coins.

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COINS ILLUSTRATED : 7

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Variety A (Large size)²

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² B.M.C., G.D., Pl. XVI. 1-17; C.A.S.R., Vol. IX, Pl. V. 4-5; J.R.A.S., (O.S.) Vol. XII, Pl. II. 39-42; P.E., Vol. II. Pl. XXXVII, 16-17.

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(1) Silver; ·6"; 29·8 grains; B.M.C., G.D., Pl. XVI. 1. *Obv:* Bust of king to r., with typical Kshatrapa features truncated at the top. Behind the head, above the curly hair, *varsha*.

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*Rev:* Garuḍa with out-spread wings; above to r., cluster of seven dots; no Greek letters like O or U below. Circular legend, beginning at III, *Para(mabhāgavata)mahārājādhirāja-śra-Kumāragupta-Mahendrāditya*. Last three letters are truncated. Notice how the medial *ī* mark is not shown over *śra*, though there is space for it.

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(2) Silver; .6"; 31.8 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XVI. 2. *Obv:* As above but bust complete. Only traces of the word *varsha* are visible behind the head; Greek letters in front of king's bust. *Rev:* As above. Legend, beginning at III, *Paramabhāga(vata-maha)rajādharāja-śra-Kumāragupta-mahendrāditya*. (Pl. XVII. 2)

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(3) Silver; .6"; 30.4 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, XVI. 8. *Obv:* As above, but bust crude. Six defective Greek letters O, U, I, H, O and U in front of king's face. *Rev:* As above, but O and U below the pedestal of Garuḍa. Legend, beginning at IV, *Parmabhāgavata-mahārājādhirāja-śra-Kumāragupta-Mahendrāditya*. (Pl. XVII. 3)

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Variety B

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(Slightly smaller in size and with round forms of *ma* and *va*)¹

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¹ B.M.C., G.D., Pl. XVI. 18-22.

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(4) Silver; .6"; 32 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XVI. 18. *Obv:* Bust of king as in variety A; O, H, O, H, C, O in its front. *Rev:* As in variety A; O and U clearly visible below Garuḍa. Legend, beginning at IV, *[Pa]ramabhāgavata-mahārājādhirāja-śra-Kumara[gupta]mahandra[datya]*. (Pl. XVII. 4)

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(5) Silver; .55"; 31.6 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XVI. 22. *Obv:* As above, but bust more complete; no traces of Greek letters.

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*Rev:* Lower portion is partly restruck, traces of the earlier legend being near the rim. Legend beginning at III, *Paramabhagavata*, the rest is truncated.

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(Resembling variety B, but having angular forms of *ma* and *va*)¹

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¹ *Ibid*, Pl. XVI. 23.

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(6) Silver; .5"; 35.7 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XVI. 23. *Obv:* As above; no traces of Greek letters. *Rev:* Legend, from IX, *Kumaragupta-Mahandradatya*. (Pl. XVII. 6)

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Variety D

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(As in variety A, but with date given)²

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² *A.S.I., A.R.*, 1923-4, p. 124.

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(7) Silver; .55"; 27 grains; *A.S.I., A.R.*, 1923-4, Pl.XLI; p. 124. *Obv:* Bust of the king to r.; date behind year; *varsha* 100(?). *Rev:* As in var. A. Legend, (*Paramabhāgavata-Mahārājādhirāja śrī*) *Kumāragupta Mahendrādityasya*. (Pl. XVII. 6; normal size) (Pl. XVII. 7; enlarged)

Class II

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The coins of this class have no traces of any Greek legend on the obverse; they are irregular in shape, some being even pointed (Pl. XVII. 9) and some polygonal (Pl. XVII. 11). Bust is very rudely engraved and bears only a faint resemblance to the Kshatrapa prototype. The representation of Garuḍa also is poor; and there is no cluster of dots by its side. Mr. Allan’s observation that the coins of this type are somewhat smaller (*B.M.C., G.D.*, xciv) is true of only some coins of this class; others are as large as those of the class I (cf. Pl. XVII. 8-10 with 1-3). The size here also varies from .5" to 6", and the normal weight from 28 to 30 grains. The absence of the Greek letters may perhaps indicate an effort on the part of the mint-masters to eradicate meaningless foreign elements. The type may perhaps have been issued in eastern Mālwā, where the Kshatrapa currency was probably not very common.

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Two varieties can be distinguished in this class; variety A where the legend is of class I and variety B, where its opening word is *Bhāgavata*, the word *Parama* being omitted. We shall now describe the coins illustrated.

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(With the full legend of class I)¹

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¹ *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XVI. 24-25.

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(1) Silver; 55"; 30.9 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XVI. 24. *Obv:* Bust of the king; no traces of Greek letters. *Rev:* Legend beginning at I, *Paramabhagavata-rajadharaja*; the letters following are blurred. *Ma* of *Parama* is square in form but *ga*, *va* and *ta* are extremely narrow and look almost like vertical lines. There is no star or pellet. (Pl. XVII. 8)

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(2) Silver; .6"; 28.3 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XVII. 25. *Obv:* As above, but blurred. *Rev:* Beginning at I, *Paramabhagavata-rajadharaja-śra-Kumaragupta-Mahendraditya*. No star or pellet. (Pl. XVII. 9)

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Variety B

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(Legend beginning with *Bhāgavata*)²

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² *Ibid*, Pl. XVI. 26-30.

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(3) Silver; .6"; 26.4 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XVI. 28. *Obv:* As above.

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*Rev:* Legend, beginning at I, *Bhagavata-rajadharaja-śra-Kumaragupta-Mahendradatya*. Notice the peculiar size of the coin. (Pl. XVII. 10)

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(4) Silver; .55"; 31 grains; *B.M.C.*, *G.D.*, Pl. XVI. 30. *Obv:* As above. *Rev:* Legend, beginning at II, *Bhagavata-rajadharaja-śra-Kumaragupta-Mahendradatya*. *Bhagavata* is blurred and the last letter is denoted almost by a vertical line. (Pl. XVII. 11)

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The coins of this class are similar to those of Class I, but they are generally smaller and thicker (cf. Pl. XVII. 12. with XVII. 1-2). But some pieces are almost as large as those of class I (cf. Pl. XVII. 13 with XVII. 4). The features of the face are more carefully drawn and treatment of the nose sometimes shows marked resemblance with that in class II (cf. Pl. XVII. 13 with Pl. XVII. 14). Like class II, it also omits the pellet from the reverse. This class however differs from class II in preserving the traces of degraded Greek legend on its obverse.

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The size and fabric of the coins of this class bear considerable resemblance to the coins of the Traikūṭaka dynasty.¹ Mr. Allan’s suggestion that they may have been issued in southern Gujarat, where the Guptas superseded the Traikūṭakas, is a probable one. It must, however, be noted that the findspots of these coins have not been carefully noted and the Gupta records give no evidence of the overthrow of the Traikūṭaka dynasty.

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¹ *B.M.C.*, *A.K.*, Pl. XVIII. 930-978.

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The average size of the coins of this class is .5" and weight about 31 grains. Several coins weigh above 32 grains and one is as heavy as 34.7 grains. The lightest weight is 27.3 grains. Coins are rather irregular in size, some being oblong and some almost pentangular (see Pl. XVII. 12-13).

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The circular legend begins at various points, sometimes at X or XI, sometimes at III or IV and sometimes at VII or VIII. It ends with *Mahendrādityaḥ*. Smith has noted that it ends with the genitive suffix *sya* in the case of three coins in the British Museum.¹ Mr. Allan’s *Catalogue* however does not refer to this ending of the legend, nor is it possible to detect the letter *sya* on the coin illustrated by Smith.² We may therefore doubt whether there are really any coins in this class with genitive ending in the legend.

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¹ J.R.A.S., 1889, p. 125.

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² Ibid, Pl. IV. 2.

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The coins of this class are divided into two varieties, variety A where the legend of the class I appears with the full title *mahārājādhirāja*, and those of variety B where it is abridged into *rājādhirāja*. On a few specimens, however, the legend is defectively engraved and misspells the word *rājādhirājaśrī* as³ *rajadhaśrī*, *jadhaśrī* and *rajadharaśrī*. (cf. Pl. XVII. 16).

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COINS ILLUSTRATED : 6

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Variety A

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(With the title *mahārājādhirāja*)⁴

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⁴ B.M.C., G.D., Pl. XVII. 1-7.

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(1) Silver; .5"; 30.9 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XVII. 1. *Obv:* Bust of the king to r. with Greek letters both in front and behind. *Rev:* Legend (VII), *Paramabhagavata-maharajadharaja-śra-Kumaragupta-Mahandradatya*, entirely visible and legible; letters *vata* are however compressed for want of space. No pellet or star in the field. (Pl. XVII. 12)

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(2) Silver; .55"; 30.³ grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XVIII. 4. *Obv:* As above, but only faint traces of blurred and truncated Greek letters to r.

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³ B.M.C., G.D., pp. 106-7. See Addenda for a coin where we have a still more defective legend.

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*Rev:* Legend (VIII) *Paramabhagavata-maharajadharaja-śra-Kumaragupta-Mahandradatya*. Note how *ma* of *Parama* looks like *pta* and *śra* like *ma* due to engraver's carelessness. *Va* looks almost like a vertical with a small knot below and *ma* and *ha* have the eastern forms.

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(With the title *rājādharāja*)¹

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¹ *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XVII. 8-31.

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(3) Silver; .5"; 33 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XVII. 9. *Obv:* As in variety A. Remnants of Greek letters both behind and in front of the face. *Rev:* Legend (VIII), *Paramabhagavata-rajadharaja-śra-Kumāragupta-Mahandradatya*.

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(Pl. XVII. 14)

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(4) Silver; 55."; 33 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XVII. 12. *Obv:* As above; Greek letters behind the bust. *Rev:* Legend (III), *Paramabhagavata-rajadharaja-śra-Kumara-gupta-Mahandradatya*. *Ku* looks almost like a vertical line owing to pressure for space.

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(Pl. XVII. 15)

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(5) Silver; .5"; 29.4 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XVII. 30. *Obv:* As above. *Rev:* Lgend (IV), *Paramabhagavata-rajadhara[ja]-śra-Kumaragupta-Mahandradatya*. Notice that the last letter of *rajāradharaja* has been omitted.

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(Pl. XVII. 16)

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(6) Silver; .5"; 24.4 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.* Pl. XVII. 28. *Obv:* As above. Traces of Greek letters both in front and behind.

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*Rev:* Legend(III), *Paramabhagavata-rajadhara-ja-śra-Kumara-gupta-Mahandradatya*. Notice how the medial vowel of *Ku* and the subscript of *ndra*, coming very close to the attenuated body of Garuḍa, represented by a mere vertical, produce the impression of the head of a trident.

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(Trident on the reverse)

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As the type is so far known from only one specimen, we shall first describe it fully.

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(7) Silver; .6"; weight not recorded; *J.B.B.R.A.S.*, Vol. VII (1862). Pl. facing p. 3, No. 11.

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*Obv:* Head of the king to r.; faint traces of the lower ends of Greek letters.

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*Rev:* Trident with two ornamental loops below the prong on either side. Circular legend (beginning at V with reference to the trident), *Paramabhā-gavata-(rājādhirāja ?)-śrī-Kumāragupta-Mahendrasya*.

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(Pl. XVII. 20)

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Only one coin of this type has been found and its weight has not been recorded. The reading *māragupta* is certain from X and the long tailed vertical of the preceding letter shows that it was most probably *ku*. The coin is, therefore, undoubtedly an issue of Kumāragupta I. The trident on the reverse is quite distinct, and it is much more elaborate than that on the so-called Valabhi coins.² Mr. Allan, while admitting that the legend does contain the name of Kumāragupta, is inclined to think that the type does not exist;³ he is unable to understand how only a single specimen of this type should have been preserved when scores of specimens of the other types of this ruler have been found. He thinks that the reverse of this type was really Garuḍa, which on some coins does resemble a trident, and conjectures that this resemblance was considerably accentuated by the draughtsman, who drew the figure for Justice Newton’s plate published in *J.B.B.R.A.S.*, Vol. VII. p. 3.

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¹ *J.B.B.R.A.S.*, Vol. VII. (1862), Pl. facing p. 3, No. 11.

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² *J.N.S.I.*, Vol. XV., Pl. II. 8.

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³ *B.M.C., G.D.*, Intr., p. xevi.

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There is no doubt that Garuḍa when rudely executed does bear some resemblance to a small trident; cf XVI. 3, XVII. 17; and this resemblance is accentuated and the trident begins to appear to be having ornamental loops also, if the letters *Guptamahendra* are just above the bird; this can be clearly seen from a coin published by Cunningham and reproduced here, (Pl. XVII. 21). The same is the case with the trident described as existing on the reverse of another coin of Kumāragupta illustrated by Prinsep in *J.A.S.B.*, 1838, Pl. XII, 16 and p. 356. On a coin in *B.M.C., G.D.*, already reproduced (Pl. XVII. 17). the medial vowel of *Ku* and the subscript of *ndra* appear as the prongs of the trident and the the attenuated wings of the bird as its ornamental loops. But the trident on Newton’s coin is a large and distinct one; and no draughtsman could have introduced the two ornamental loops on its either side, unless they were there in the original. It may be pointed out that the letters *Guptamahendra* are not just above the head of the trident on Newton’s coin to produce the illusion of the loops, as they are on that of Cunningham (Pl. XVII. 21). It is further to be noted that the coin was actually in possession of Newton and that he was describing it not from the drawing but from the original piece. He could have immediately detected the blunder of the draughtsman, had he mistaken Garuḍa for a trident. He goes on further to observe how the unique piece bears a close resemblance both to the coins of the Kshatrapas as well as to those of Bhaṭṭāraka, who started the Valabhi type with trident on the reverse. He would not have commented upon this two-fold resemblance, had he not been sure about the existence of the trident on the coin that was in his actual possession.

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¹ *C.A.S.R.*, Vol. IX, Pl. V, 5.

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I have already shown elsewhere how the so-called Valabhi type with trident on the reverse was probably started in *c.* 360 A.D. by Bhaṭṭāraka duriug the interregnum in the reign of Rudrasimha III.¹ It was therefore quite possible for Kumāragupta to imitate that coin type. It is not unlikely that we may discover further coins of his of the Trident type.

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¹ *J.N.S.I.*, Vol. VI. p. 19.

Class V: Madhyadeśa Type

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Class IV of the silver coinage of Kumāragupta consists of the issues intended for circulation in the Gangetic plain or Madhyadeśa. This type shows many striking variations from the Western Indian type. The size and the weight are nearly the same in both the cases; the obverse continues to have the bust of the king and the reverse a bird with a circular legend around it. But there are several points of striking difference.

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(1) The face on the obverse is in most cases not an imitation of the Kshatrapa head; (cf. Pl. XVII. 1-17 with 22-28) Prominent nose and long moustaches disappear. The king's nose is flat and almost in a line with the forehead. The hair behind the head is, however, still shown as falling in the Kshatrapa fashion. It has been suggested that the Madhyadeśa coins seek to give a portrait of the emperor.² This may perhaps be true in the case of Kumāragupta I, but it has to be admitted that the features of Skandagupta on the Madhyadeśa silver currency are closely similar to those of Kumāragupta I (cf. Pl. XVIII. 19-22). Effort at portraiture, if attempted in the reign of Kumāragupta, was given up later, unless we assume that the features of Skandagupta closely resembled those of his father.

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² Allan, *B.M.C.*, *G.D.*, p. xcv.

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On a few rare coins, however (Pl. XVII. 28), we see a combination of the Kshatrapa bust on the obverse with fan-tailed peacock on the reverse. Such coins are, however, very rare.

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(2) The meaningless traces of the unintelligible Greek legend never appear on the Madhyadeśa coins; they are usually to be seen on most of the issues of Western India with the exception of two varieties.

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(3) The date on the coins of the Western type, when given, is behind the king's head; it is in its front on the Madhyedeśa coins. Numerical symbols used are also different (cf. Pl. XVII. 1 with Pl. XVII. 22-3).

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(4) Garuḍa, the reverse device of the Western type, is replaced by Fan-tailed Peacock on the Madhyadeśa coins. If the representation of Garuḍa had a significant reference to the heraldic emblem of the Gupta dynasty, that of Peacock alluded to god Kumāra or Kārtikeya, whose mount was that bird; it was after this deity Kumāragupta, the issuer, was named.

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(5) The legend on the Madhyadeśa type is also different. On the Western issues it was a prose sentence *Paramabhāgavata-mahārājādhirāja-śrī-Kumāragupta-Mahendrādityaḥ*;¹ on the Madhyadeśa coins it was a metrical line, *Vijitāvaniravanipatiḥ Kumāragupto divaṃ jayati* (Pl. XXI. 20), borrowed from the gold Archer type of this emperor. This legend, with only the change of the issuer's name, was destined to be current for two hundred years in Madhyadeśa; for it was later adopted by Skandagupta, Budhagupta, Toramāṇa, all Maukhari kings, Pratāpaśīla and Harshavardhana.

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¹ It is slightly abridged on the Altar type of Skandagupta by the omission of the term *Mahārājādhirāja*, necessitated by the smaller size of the coins. *Mahārājādhirāja* is abridged into *Rājādhirāja* on one variety of Kumāragupta himself; see class III, var. B, p. 225.

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(6) There is no palæographical difference in the scripts used. But it is worth noting that the marks of medial vowels, which are usually shown very carefully on the Madhyadeśa coins (cf. Pl. XVII. 22-25), are never engraved on the dies of the Western type, even when there was ample room to accommodate them (cf. Pl. XVII. 3-4).

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The average size of the normal coins of this type varies between .55" and .6" and the weight between 29 and 31 grains. *B.M.C.* No. 396, however, weighs 36.5 grains and No. 398, 25.6 grains only. These are exceptional pieces, as far as their weights are concerned.

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The dates of issue, so far noted on these coins, are 122, 124, 128, 129, 130, 135, of the Gupta era corresponding to 440, 443, 447, 448, 449 and 454 A. D. They would suggest that the silver currency was introduced in the home provinces rather late in the reign of the emperor.

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The coins of the Madhyadeśa type are common in the Uttara Pradesh. They were obtained at Saharanpur, Mathurā, Kanpur, Banaras and Ayodhyā. Curiously enough they have been so far rarely found in Bihar, the home province of the Gupta empire, nor in Bengal, which continued under the Gupta sway even during the decline of the dynasty. It is not easy to explain this absence.

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Madhyadeśa type is divided into five varieties. In variety A, there is on the reverse an uncertarin object on left which is probably the conventional representation of a lotus. In variety B, this object is represented by three dots. In variety C, the field is empty. Variety D is like variety A, but has the peculiar feature of leaving a clear margin between the border of dots and the circular legend. The bust on the reverse is of the Kshatrapa type.

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We now proceed to describe the coins of these varieties, illustrated in our work.

Class VI

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Variety A

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(With a conventional lotus in the field)¹

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(1) Sliver; .65"; 31.4 grains; *B.M.C.*, *G.D.*, Pl. XVIII.¹. *Obv:* Bust of the king to r. with flat nose and no moustaches; no traces of Greek letters; in front of the face, the date, 100, 30. 5.

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¹ *B.M.C.*, *G.D.*, Pl. XVIII. 1-5.

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*Rev*: Peacock standing facing with head to l., wings outstretched; an uncertain object, probably a conventional lotus, in the field on l. Border of dots partly on the flan. Legend (XII), *Vijatavanaravanapata (Kumāragu)pto divam jayata*.

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(Pl. XVII. 22)

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(2) Silver; .55"; 31.3 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XVIII. 3.

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*Obv*: As above. Date, partly preserved, (100), 20, 2.

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*Rev*: As above. Legend, (XII), *Vijitavaniranipati (Kumāra-gupto divam) jayata*. Lotus (?) in the field.

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(Pl. XVII. 23)

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Variety B

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(With three dots in the field)¹

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(3) Silver; .55"; 31.¹ grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XVIII. 7.

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*Obv*: As above, but no traces of date.

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*Rev*: Legend (XII) *Vajatavanaravanapa(ti Kumā)ragupto diva jayati*. Three dots in the lower field on the l.

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(Pl. XVII. 24)

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Variety C

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(With field empty)²

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² *Ibid.* Pl. XVIII. 9-14.

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(4) Silver; .55"; 32.¹ grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XVIII. 12.

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¹ *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XVIII. 6-7.

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*Obv*: As above; slight traces of date on r.

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*Rev*: Legend (XII) *Vajatavanaravanapati Kumaragupto dava jayati*. Field empty.

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(Pl. XVII. 25)

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Variety D

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(With margin between the circular legend and border of dots)

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(5) Silver; .55"; 27.4 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XVIII. 15.

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*Obv*: Bust of the king to r., showing moustaches as in the Kshatrapa type.

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*Rev:* As in variety A; legend (XI), *Vajatavanaravannapata Kumaragupta dava jayata.*

Class VII: Silver-Plated Coins of Western Type

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A large number of copper coins of Kumāragupta I have been found near Valabhi (Wala) in Kathiawar, which have a very crude head of the king on the obverse and Garuḍa with circular legend on the reverse. These coins are smaller in size than the silver pieces, their diameter varying from .35" to .45". The highest known weight is 35.2 grains and the lowest one is 22.6 grains; the normal weight seems to be about 29 grains. Traces of silver plating are still clearly discernible on many of these coins, and so there can be no doubt that they were copper coins plated with silver and intended to pass off as silver currency. Towards the end of the reign of Kumāragupta, the Gupta empire was passing through a grave crisis, which must have depleted the treasury, necessitating the issue of debased currency. We illustrate below two coins of this type.

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(1) Copper, silver-coated; .45"; 30.4 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XVIII. 16. *Obv:* Crude head of the king to r., in front, Grcek letters H, O. *Rev:* Crude Garuḍa. Legend (IV) *Paramabhagavataraja-dharaja.* (Pl. XVII. 18)

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(2) Copper, silver-coated; .45"; 28.4 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XVIII. 23. *Obv:* Bust of the king partly truncated. *Rev:* As above. Legend, IV [*Para*] *mabhagavata-rajadharaja-śra-Kumaragupta.*

Class VIII: Silver-Plated Coins of Madhyadeśa Type

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The plated coins of the Madhyadeśa type are relatively much rarer than those of the Western types. The British Museum possesses only one specimen (No. 402), which is a thin broad piece, being 22.8 grains in weight and .6" in diameter. But this coin is not purely of the Madhyadeśa type, as the features of its bust are Western Indian, though its reverse shows the fan-tailed peacock. Two coins of this type were found at Kanauj. The solitary copper coin of the fan-tail peacock type existing in the Indian Museum is probably one of them.¹ Two coins were found at Sanchankot in Unao district, which are now in the State Museum, Lucknow.² They do not appear to have been published. Smith had acquired one specimen at Jais in Rai Bareily distirct, which had no traces left of silver-plating.³ The Banaras Hindu University coin cabinet possesses one coin of this type, purchased from a Lucknow dealer and therefore probably obtained in U. P. The whole of its reverse has the entire silver coating; it has been washed away only from the upper quarter of the obverse.

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¹ *J.R.A.S.*, 1893, p. 138. The *Catalogue* of the Museum, however, refers to only one of these two coins, (p. 116); what has happened to the other is not known.

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² *J.A.S.B.*, 1894, p. 175.

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³ *J.R.A.S.*, 1893, p. 138.

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We now describe two coins of this type.

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(1) Copper, silver-coated; .6"; 22-8 grains; *B.M.C.*, *G.D.*; Pl. XVIII. 14. *Obv:* Crude bust of the king to r, imitating the Kshatrapa type. *Rev:* Fan-tailed peacock; legend XII [*vijitā*]vanaravanipati Kumāra[*gupta*]dava jaya[*ta*]. (Pl. XVII. 28)

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(2) Copper, silver-plated; .55"; 29.5 grains; Banaras Hindu University, Banaras; *J.N.S.I.*, Vol. XIII. p. 76. *Obv:* Bust of the king to r.; date in front 100,30 (?). Notice how the silver coating has gone off in part of the upper portion, which appears black in colour in the plate. *Rev:* Fan-tailed peacock; circular legend, [*Vi*]jitavaniravanipati Kumaragupto davam jaya(*ti*). (Pl. XVII. 27)

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