The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c14.s2.4

c14.s2.4

While admitting that some of these coins were originally silver-plated pieces, Smith maintained that the vast majority of them represented a genuine copper currency exactly identical in weight, size, devices and legend with the silver one. Mr. Allan does not agree with this view and holds that all the coins, now appearing as copper, were originally silver-plated pieces intended to pass as silver coins.³ We hold the same view and have therefore described these coins as class VII of the silver currency (p. 232).