The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c14.s1.t4: Class VII: Silver-Plated Coins of Western Type
The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c14.s1.t4
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Class VII: Silver-Plated Coins of Western Type
c14.s1.t4.2
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.
c14.s1.t4.3
(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)
c14.s1.t4.4
(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.*