The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c14.s1.t5.2

c14.s1.t5.2

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.