The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c14.s2.7

c14.s2.7

Nor was there any well-established practice in Gujarat and Kathiawar of issuing coins of the same type both in silver and copper. After carefully investigating the available evidence Smith could come across only a single copper coin of Chashṭana, which was an exact copy of his silver type.¹ It is, however, not unlikely that this so-called copper coin may also have been originally a silver-plated coin with all its silver coating washed off. A silver-plated coin of Chashṭana, exactly resembling his silver type, has been recently found.² Nahapāṇa, who was a near predecessor of Chashṭana, had issued some plated coins exactly resembling his silver pieces³ and Chashṭana, who had to struggle hard to establish the power of his house, did the same.