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The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c15: Chapter X: The Coinage of Skandagupta

The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c15

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Contents

Chapter X: The Coinage of Skandagupta

(1) Gold Coinage

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Gold coinage of the three great Gupta emperors Samudragupta, Chandragupta II and Kumāragupta I, shows a pleasing and surprising variety. The crave for numismatic variety, however, comes to an end with the accession of Skandgupta. He issued gold coins certainly in three and perhaps in four types; none of them, however, can be described as new. His successors confined themselves to one type only; most of them had short reigns and lived in troubled times. Skandagupta at the beginning of his reign had to spend a night on bare ground, while trying to retrieve the declining fortunes of his family. He was eventually successful in re-establishing the prestige of his house; but it appears that he was too much occupied with the weighty affairs of state to find the necessary leisure to think of any new types for his coinage.

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The tendency to increase the weight standard of gold coins continued in the reign of Skandagupta. His father had issued largest number of coins to the standard of about 127 grains, though he had issued some coins weighing as high as 130 grains. In the reign of Skandagupta 132 grains standard became the prevailing standard in the King and Lakshmi type, Chhatra type and the smaller variety of the Archer type. He, however, issued one variety of the Archer type, which is naturally larger in size, to the weight standard to about 144 grains. His Horseman type also weighs 140·5 grains. It appears that these were intended to conform to the *suvarṇa* standard of 80 *rattis* or 144 grains. Cunningham had stated that these heavy weight coins were heavily adulterated; what was apparently given in weight was taken away by adding heavy dross to the metal. Recent assaying of the gold coins of Skandagupta in the British Museum done by the mint authorities has, however, shown that the heavier coins of Skandagupta do not contain any greater percentage of alloy than that in his lighter variety. As a matter of fact coin No. 417 of the *B.M.C.* of the lighter weight standard was found to contain an alloy of 26% and coin No. 428 of the same Museum of the heavy weight standard was seen to have an alloy of only 22%.¹ It appears that the financial strain on the resources of the empire was responsible for this deterioration in the purity of the coinage. The coins of the early Gupta emperors usually contain an alloy of about 10% only.

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¹ B.P. Sinha in *J.B.R.S.*, Vol. XXXIV., p. 24.

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It may be convenient to give here in a tabular form the gold contents of some of the representative types of gold coins of the later Gupta rulers, as recently ascertained by the authorities of the British Museum.

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| King | Type. | B.M.C. No. | Gold contents |
| Skandagupta | King and Lakshmi type | 423 | 72% |
| ,, | Archer type (132 gr. standard). | 417 | 74% |
| ,, | Archer type (144 gr. standard) | 428 | 78% |
| Narasimhagupta | Good fabric | 560 | 71% |
| ,, | Rude fabric | 565 | 54% |
| Kumāragupta II | Good fabric | 571 | 79% |
| ,, | Rude fabric | 576 | 54% |
| Budhagupta | Class II, without king's name | 550 | 77% |
| Vishṇugupta. | Archer type | 598 | 43% |
| Vainyagupta | Archer type | 589 | 73% |
| Prakāśāditya | Horseman-Lion-slayer type. | 552 | 77% |

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| King | Type | B.M.C. No. | Gold contents |
| Jayagupta¹ | Archer type | 614 | 34% |
| Saśāṅka¹ | Śiva and Bull type | 608 | 58% |
| ,, | ,, | 611 | 10% |

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¹ Jayagupta and Saśāṅka are included in the above list only for the sake of convenience and comparison. They were not Gupta kings of the Imperial family.

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No. 611 of Saśāṅka is a copper coin plated with silver, having probably a thin gold coating at one time.

The Archer Type

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The most popular type of Skandagupta was the Archer type, as was also the case with his grand-father. But his Archer type hardly shows any variety on the obverse, either in the position of the king or in the way in which he holds the bow or in the manner in which the name of the king is written in the field. The king is in coat and trousers, and not in dhoti, always faces left, and holds the bow in the left hand at the top and the arrow in the right. His name Skanda is always written perpendicularly under the left arm, never between the bow and the bowstring or outside the string. We can, however, classify the coins into two varieties, mainly by the weight standard. Coins of the variety A follow the weight standard or 132 grains and those of the variety B of 144 grains. The latter naturally look larger than the former.

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The circular legends of both the varieties are not yet completely deciphered; that in the variety A (Pl. XIV. 8) seems to be Jayati mahītalaṁ (Skandaguptaḥ)² sudhanvī.³ In variety B the legend was probably *Parahitakārī rājā jayati divam śrī-Kramādityaḥ*.¹ ‘The king Kramāditya, the benefactor of others, wins the heaven.’ The metre would be Upagīti. It must be, however, added that the word *rājā* is not clear on any specimen (*e.g.* Pl. XIV. 9-11) and on some coins, the letter after *Parahita* seems to have been a conjuct (Pl. XIV. 9). Smith states that on one coin of this class belonging to Mr. Barstow, the obverse legend contained the word *Vikrama*.² He has not however illustrated the coin. His view that the legend on this variety was *Paramavikrama-śrī-Skandaguptadeva* does not seem to be correct. The reverse legend in variety A is *Śrī-Skandaguptaḥ*, that in variety B, *Kramādityaḥ*.

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² This portion is not clear on any specimen, but Mr. Allan has pointed out that fragments visible beside the arrow in B.M.C., Pl. XIX. 6-8 suggest Skandagupta. In all probability this legend is on the pattern of his father's Jayati mahītalaṁ Kumāraguptaḥ sudhanvī, known on his archer type class III, Variety C (ante p. 172).

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³ The letter nvī is usually written between Garuḍa and the head of the king.

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¹ *J.R.A.S.*, 1893, p. 125.

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No detailed description of the type is further necessary.

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Variety A

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(132 grains standard with *Śrī-Skandaguptaḥ* on the reverse.)³

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³ *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XIX. 1-5; *J.R.A.S.*, 1889, Pl. III. 7.

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(1) Gold; .75"; 130.² grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XIX. 2. (Obv.); *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XIX. 5. (Rev.)

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² *J.R.A.S.*, 1893, p. 125.

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*Obv:* Skandagupta, standing l., bare-headed wearing coat, trousers and boots, necklace, earrings etc., holding bow at the top in l. hand with string inwards and arrow in the r.; Garuḍa standard with fillet behind the r. hand. Under the l. arm *Skanda*; circular legend, from I, *Jayata (mahitalam)*, at X *sudhanvī*.

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*Rev:* Lakshmī, nimbate, seated facing on lotus, holding noose in outstretched r. hand and a lotus in the l., resting on knee. Symbol on l. Legend on r. *Śrī-Skandagupta*.

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(Pl. XIV. 8)

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(144 grains standard with *Kramāditya* on the reverse)¹

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¹ *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XIX. 10-15; XX. 1-2; *J.R.A.S.*, 1889, III. 8.

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(2) Gold; .85"; 142.8 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XIX. 11. *Obv:* As above. Circular legend, from I, *Parama*(?) *ta*; the letter following looks like a *jihvāmūlīya*, with *ka* attached to it; the next letter looks like a *pra* or *bu*; blurred traces of the legend on l. *Rev:* As above. Legend, *Kramāditya*. (Pl. XIV. 9).

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(3) Gold; .8"; weight unknown; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XIX. 14 (from cast). *Obv:* As above, but the opening five letters of the legend clearly read as *Parahataka*, standing for *Parahitakā[rī]*. *Rev:* As above. Noose off the flan. Legend, *Kramāditya*. Notice how *da* looks like *ma* or *ja*. (Pl. XIV. 10)

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(4) Gold; .9"; 138.7 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XIX. 13. *Obv:* As above. Circular legend from (I), *Parahitakārī*; the following two letters are blurred, but do not appear to have been *rājā*. (Pl. XIV. 11) *Rev:* As above.

King and Lakshmī Type

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The nomenclature of the King and Lakshmī type has given rise to a controversy. The legend on the obverse has not been well preserved and the object in the hand of the lady is not distinct. So the interpretation of this type has given rise to two views. V. A. Smith first described the type as the King and the Queen type on the analogy of Chandragupta-Kumāradevī type of Chandragupta I.² Mr. Allan suggested later that the type can be better described as the King and Lakshmī type.¹ Mr. Jagannath² have recently argued in favour of the earlier view of Smith.

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² *J.R.A.S.*, 1889, p. 110; *J.A.S.B.*, 1884, i. p. 199.

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¹ B.M.C., G.D., pp. xcviii-c.

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² J.N.S.I., VIII. pp. 48-51.

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It is difficult to decide definitely in favour of one of these views in preference to the other. But it appears more probable that the lady is intended to stand for Lakshmī rather than the queen. It is true that she is not nimbate, but Lakshmī appears without a halo on several Gupta coins³ (e.g. Pl. IV. 13; Pl. V. 1-2, 5, etc).

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³ See also, B.M.C., G.D., Pl. VII. 10. 13-16; 19; Pl. XII. 11-12.

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If the personages on the obverse were the king and the queen, their names would have been given there as on the coins of Chandragupta I.⁴ Such is not the case. The view of Smith that the letter near the king’s head *Ska* is standing for *Skanda* and that the letters near the lady’s head were perhaps *priyā* forming part of the queen’s name is untenable.⁵ The former letter is clearly *nva* of the word *sudhanvī*; *Priyā* cannot be read with certainty near the lady’s head on any specimen. It may be further pointed out that on the King-and-Queen type of Chandragupta I and Kumāragupta I, the king is always on the right and the queen on the left, and it is the former who is offering a present to the latter. On the present type of Skandagupta, he occupies the place on the left and it is the lady who is offering him some object, to which he is looking with intense interest and curiosity. The recipient is generally inferior in status, as is also shown by the Chakravikrama type of Chandragupta II. The lady being superior in status should therefore be presumed to be a goddess, *viz.* Lakshmī. It is possible to argue that Lakshmī having been shown on the reverse, her appearance again on the obverse is superfluous. The king's expression is not one of humility and devotion and so the personage before him, who has no halo, can hardly be Lakshmī. On the whole, however, it appears more probable that this type is intended to illustratrate graphically the poetic idea of Skandagupta being chosen as her lord by the goddess Lakshmī, which we find expressed in his Bhitari inscription. Ladies of fashion no doubt often held a lotus in their hand, but that would not stand in the way of our identifying the lady here with Lakshmī. The Garuḍa standard in the centre and the bow and arrow in the king's hands would probably suggest that the scene is one of the battlefield and that the mint-master intended to give a visual representation of the goddess Jaya-Lakshmī making her appearance on the battle-field and offering him some object indicative of success and sovereignty,—possibly paṭṭabandha or diadem.

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⁴ The die of the solitary coin of the King-and-Queen type of Kumāragupta I probably had the names of the royal couple; they may not have come on the flan.

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⁵ J.A.S.B., 1894, i, p. 170.

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The mystery of this type can be solved only by our getting better specimens, which will enable us to read the circular legend and identify the object in the lady's hand.

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We shall now deseribe the type.

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*Obv:* On l. king bare-headed with curly hair, standing facing r., wearing waist-cloth and usual jewelry, holding by l. hand bow by the middle with string outside; r. hand rests on hip holding an arrow; on r. goddess Lakshmī facing l., not nimbate, wearing usual jewelry; behind her a lotus with a long stalk in her l. hand; she holds up some uncertain object in her r. hand at which the king is looking with great curiosity. Garuḍa standard between the king and the goddess, parallel and just next to the bow-string. Legend is uncertain; it begins with *Jayati* and ends with the letter *nva* in front of the forehead of the king. It may have been the same as in the Archer type, variety A, *Jayati mahītalam*....¹ sudhanvi(*ī*). (Pl. XXV. 11).

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¹ To judge from the scanty remains of the intervening letters, they should have been *Skandaguptaḥ*; the metre also will support this restoration.

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*Rev:* Goddess Lakshmī, nimbate, seated on lotus, facing to front holding noose in r. hand and lotus in l. resting on the l. knee. Symbol on the l. Legend, *Śrī-Skandaguptaḥ* (Pl. XXVI. 24).

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COINS ILLUSTRATED : 2

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(1) Gold; .75"; weight not known; Bibl. Nat.; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XIX. 9.

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*Obv:* As above. The object being presented to the king is uncertain; it may be the end of a diadem. The circular legend is uncertain, but traces of *ya* appear on the queen’s head; *nvī* between the head of the king and Garuḍa.

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*Rev:* As in the general description. Legend, *Śrī-Skandagupta*. (Pl. XIV. 12)

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(2) Gold; .75"; 128.8 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XIX. 6.

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*Obv:* As above. Faint traces of *Jaya* above the head of the goddess.

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*Rev:* As above. (Pl. XIV. 13)

Chhatra Type

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Only one coin of the Chhattra type of Skandagupta is known so far and it was found in the Bayana hoard. It is however possible that this type of Skandagupta may not have been quite rare; for among the two hundred and odd coins of the hoard, that were melted down by the villagers, it is quite possible that some coins of this type might have shared that fate; they must naturally have been at the top of the pot, as Skandagupta was the reigning emperor when the hoard was buried.

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The circular legend on the obverse is incomplete and does not give the name of the king. But the reverse *biruda* *Kramāditya*, shows that the issuer is most probably Skandagupta. There is ample empty space before the letter *kra* of *Kramāditya*; we cannot therefore argue that the reverse legend may have been *Vikramāditya* and therefore the issuer may have been Chandragupta II. Kumāragupta I cannot be the issuer of this type, because he never bore the title *Kramāditya*. On the other hend, we have seen above how Skandagupta uses the *biruda* *Kramāditya* on variety B of the coins of the Archer type. It is therefore most probable that this Chhatra type was issued by Skandagupta. We say most probably, because there is some evidence to show that Ghaṭotkacha, who was perhaps a brother of Skandagupta, also bore this same epithet. If we are correct in atttibuting to him the solitary Archer type coin in the Leningrad Museum, which bears the name *Ghaṭo* on the obverse, its reverse bears the *biruda* *Kramāditya*. Ghaṭotkacha, however, is not so far known to have contested the throne with his brother Skandagupta. If therefore he had ascended the throne and issued any coins, it must have been after the death of Skandagupta. His coins therefore are not likely to have been included in the Bayana hoard. It would be therefore safer to attribute this solitary coin to Skandagupta rather than to Ghaṭotkachagupta.¹

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¹ For the contrary view of Mr. P. L. Gupta and its criticism, see *J.N.S.I.*, Pl. XIV. pp. 99-102.

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We now describe the coin.

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(1) Gold; .8"; 130 grains; B.H., Pl. XXXI. 15. *Obv:* King, nimbate, standing to l., wearing necklace and armlets, r. hand extended and in the posture of offering sacrifice, but no altar visible below; l. hand is on the hilt of the sword at the waist. Dwarf attendant behind, holding umbrella. Circular legend, not complete, but beginning with *Vijitāvani*, partly truncated. *Rev:* Standing goddess, nimbate, facing l., wearing necklace and armlets, r. hand extended holding a noose, l. hand hanging down but holding a lotus with long stalk. Symbol on the l. Legend on the r., *Kramādityaḥ*.

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(Pl. XIV. 14)

Horseman Type

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A coin of the Horseman type in the Bodleian collection weighs 140.5 grains and has the *biruḍa* *Kramādita*. Smith had read the legend as *Kramajita*, but this reading gives no sense, and the third letter, though blurred, looks more like *da* than *ja*; see Pl. XIV. 15; Smith had attributed this coin to Chandragupta II, but this king never bore any epithet other than *Vikrama* or *Vikramāditya*. Whether the standard of 140 grains was current is his reign is very doubtful. It is therefore clear that this coin was not issued by Chandragupta II. *Kramāditya* was a *biruda* of Skandagupta and most probably this type was issued by him. It is true that Ghaṭotkacha also bore this epithet, but is is not certain that he ruled for an appreciable length of time, and therefore it is not likely that he may have issued this Horseman type in addition to the Archer one. Unfortunately the obverse circular legend on this coin is still undeciphered, and we shall have to wait for a better specimen before we can be quite positive about the attribution of this type. Mr. Allan is perhaps indecisive on this point. In his Introduction (p. c) he hesitatingly ascribes this type to Skandagupta but in the body of his *Catalogue*, he does not include this coin among the issues of that ruler.

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We now describe the coin below.

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Gold; .8"; 140.5 grains; Bodleian Collection; *N.Chr.*, 1891, Pl. II. 6.

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*Obv:* King bare-headed, riding on horse to l., not bearing any weapons, sash flowing behind. Circular legend blurred and illegible.

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*Rev:* Goddess seated on wicker stool facing l., holding a noose in r. hand and lotus with long stalk in the l. Blurred symbol on l.; blurred legend on r., *Kramādita*.

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(Pl. XIV. 15)

(2) Silver Coinage of Skandagupta

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Skandagupta was the last Gupta emperor to issue silver coins of both the Western and Madhyadeśa types. Epigraphical evidence proves decisively that he continued to exercise sway over Kathiawar through his own viceroys. It is therefore natural that we should get his silver coinage of the Western type in fairly large quantity. He continued the class I of his father and grand-father showing traces of Greek letters. But we have no coins of his corresponding to classes II¹ and III² of Kumāragupta I. Mr. Allan has therefore suggested that this circumstance can be explained on the assumption that the districts, where these types were being issued, were probably lost by Skandagupta some time during his reign. There is nothing impossible in his suggestion, but more evidence would be required before it can be accepted. In the first place we do not know where the coins of these two classes were current. The difference between them and those of class I is rather minute, and it may be that the class II with no Greek letters on the obverse, was discontinued by Skandagupta simply because class I, where these letters were mechanically reproduced, was more popular in Western India. It is further not unlikely that the disappearance of these two classes may be partly due to the introduction of two new types by Skandagupta, viz., the Bull type and the Altar type. Owing to the absence of any definite information about the precise findspots of the coins of the differnt classes, it is difficult to accept the view as proved that Skandagupta had lost some districts in Western India, which were the places where classes II and III of the silver coinage of his father were current.

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¹ Coins of this class have no traces of Greek letters on the obverse and no cluster of dots and OU on the reverse.

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² Coins of this class are small and thick and bear close affinity to the Traikūṭaka coinage.

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The coins of the Madhyadeśa type of Skandagupta show the same characteristics as those of his father. The features of the bust betray no Kshatrapa influence and the reverse shows fan-tailed peacock, which was first introduced by Kumāragupta. Dates are given in front of the face and in the Gupta era.

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We now proceed to describe the different types. We shall first give a general description of each type followed by necessary remarks and then describe the coins illustrated.

Silver Coins of Western India: Class I

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(With Garuḍa reverse)¹

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¹ B.M.C., G.D., Pl. XX. 3-8.

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*Obv:* Bust of the king to r., as on the silver coins of Chandragupta and Kumāragupta of Class I. Behind the head *varshe* with traces of date. Greek letters like O,U,H, in front of the face.

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*Rev:* Garuḍa standing facing on a wavy line. Cluster of seven dots above to r. O and U, beneath the wavy line; border of dots. Circular legend commencing at II, *Parama*²*bhāgavata-mahārājādhirāja-śrī-Skandagupta-Kramādityaḥ* (Pl. XXV. 13) ‘Overlord of kings, Skandagupta Kramāditya, great devotee of Viṣṇu. On some coins, the legend is defective, only *mahara* or *maharajadha* being engraved instead of *mahārājādhirāja*.

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² On some coins *ma* assumes the form of three dots; see *B.M.C., G.D.*, p. 121, Nos 443-4. These coins have not been illustrated.

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The size of the coins of this class varies between .5" and .55" and the weight between 22 and 33 grains. The average weight is about 30 grains.

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No definite date has been read on these coins. One coin (Pl. XVIII. 6) has the symbol for 100, but the digit following has been but partly preserved.

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COINS ILLUSTRATED : 3

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(1) Silver; ·55"; 27 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XX. 3. *Obv:* Bust of the king to r.; no Greek letters on the flan; behind the head *varsha* 100. *Rev:* As above described. Legend at III, as given in general description *Kramā*; partly preserved. (Pl. XVIII. 6)

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(2) Silver; ·55"; 31.6 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XX. 5. *Obv:* O, H, O in front of the face. No traces of date. *Rev:* As above, but *Skandagupta-Kramaditya* very clear. (Pl. XVIII. 7)

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(3) Silver; .5"; 31.2 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XX. 8. *Obv:* No traces of Greek letters or date. *Rev:* Defective legend (I), *Paramabhagavata-maharaja-śra-Skandagupta-Kramadatya*. (Pl. XVIII. 8)

Class II: Bull Type

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The general description of this type is as follows:- *Obv:* Head of the king to r.; no trace of date or Greek letters. *Rev:* Nandi (Bull) recumbent to r.; circular legend is defective, but it was intended to be *Paramabhāgavata-mahārājādhirāja-śrī-Skandagupta-Kramādityaḥ*. The legend is given on Pl. XXV. 13.

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The size of the coins of this type varies between ·5" and ·6" and their weight from 20 to 29 grains. The normal ave-

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1. *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XX. 8.

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rage weight is about 25 grains. Silver used is considerably adulterated. The title *mahārājādhirāja* is variously contracted into *rājādhirā* or *mahara* or even *ma* on different coins.

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The obverse of these coins resembles that of class II of the silver coins of Kumāragupta inasmuch as both the classes have no Greek letters. It is likely that it may have supplanted that class. Bull later became the emblem of the rulers of Valabhi and Mr. Allan has therefore suggested that these coins may have been current in the land round about the Gulf of Cambay. But the Bull was also on the coins of the Nāga rulers of Padmāvatī and it is also seen to figure on the coins of the Kalachūri ruler Kṛṣṇarāja, who ruled in Mālwā in the third quarter of the 6th century and issued a silver currency closely resembling the Bull type of Skandagupta. It is therefore not unlikely that this type may have been current in Mālwā. We have already suggested the possibility of the coins of class II of Kumāragupta’s silver coins being current in this region.

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The execution of the coins of this type is rather crude, but not quite so crude as that of the Altar type to be presently described.

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COINS ILLUSTRATED : 2

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(1) Silver; .5"; 25.6 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*; Pl. XX. 9. *Obv:* As described above, but face is partly cut off. No trace of date. *Rev:* Bull to r.; legend, from I, *Śra-Skandagupta-Kramada*. (Pl. XVIII. 9)

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(2) Silver; .6"; 24.6 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XX. 12. *Obv:* Bust of the king almost entire; no date or Greek letters. *Rev:* Legend, (V) *Paramabhagavata-mahāra-śra-Skandagupta-Kramadatya*. Bhagavata is blurred.

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ALTAR TYPE

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The general description of this class is as follows:- *Obv:* Bust of king to r.; traces of Greek letters, O, H, U. *Rev:* Altar in the centre with three flames rising above it. Circular legend, often defective; *Parama-bhāgavata-śrī-Vikramāditya-Skandaguptaḥ* (Pl. XXV. 14) in var. A and *Paramabhāgavata-śrī-Skandaguptaḥ Kramādityaḥ* (Pl. XXVI. 16). in Var. B.

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The coins of the Altar type of all the varieties are very crudely executed. They have no regular size and can be called neither circular, nor oval nor rectangular. They are mere bits or fragments of metal stamped with devices and the complete legend cannot be seen on any of them. The letters of the legend are, however in high relief and easily legible, though they are carelessly engraved. The size varies between .5" and .55" and the normal weight of the average coin is about 28 grains. The circular legend is often defective, variety C being most remarkable in this respect.

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The emblem on the reverse is here described as Altar. Smith had taken it to be a rudely executed bird. There is no doubt that Garuḍa on some coins looks like the altar, but the device is repeated so frequently in such a stereo-typed manner that it would be more correct to call it Altar as Mr. Allan has done. It appears to have been borrowed from the gold coins, where it figures on the obverse of the Standard type of Samudragupta and the Chhattra type of Chandragupta II.

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It has been suggested that the device may be a *Tulasi-vṛndāvana*. This view is undoubtedly a plausible one, but it has to be admitted that the three prong-like things upon the altar have a greater resemblance to the three flames of fire than to the branches of the Tulasi plant. The apex and base of the lower object are too broad and its vertical portion too narrow to justify its description as a *vṛndāvana*. The art however, is very crude and we cannot exclude the possibility of the device being intended for *Tulasi-vṛindāvana*, especially when it is remembered that the legend on the obverse proclaims the Vaishṇava faith of the emperor, which attached great importance to the *Tulasi* plant.

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The coins of this class are as crude in execution and irregular in size as those of class I. In many cases the features of the bust can hardly be recognised as those of a human being. The weight of normal pieces varies from 26 to 32 grains; the size is sometimes only .4", and sometimes it is as large as .55".

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The Altar type is divided into three varieties; variety A has the king's *biruda* as *Vikramāditya*, variety B shows the *biruda* as *Kramāditya* and variety C has no *biruda* at all.

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Altar type is the most common type of the silver currency of Skandagupta. The Garuḍa and the Bull types are relatively rare.

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Variety A

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COINS ILLUSTRATED : 2 (With the title *Vikramāditya*)

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(1) Silver; .5"; 26.4 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XX. 15. *Obv:* Bust very crude and truncated in front; no traces of Greek letters. *Rev:* Altar complete; legend, from IX, *ta-śra-Vakramadatya-Skanda*. (Pl. XVIII. 11)

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(2) Silver; .55"; 32.8 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XX. 16. *Obv:* Bust crude; face truncated. *Rev:* (VIII) *ta-śra-Vakramadatya-Skand*. (Pl. XVIII. 12)

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Variety B

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(With the title *Kramāditya*)

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The general description of this variety is as follows:— *Obv:* Bust of king to r.; traces of letters like H, O, etc. on some coins.

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*Rev:* Altar; circular legend beginning on the left at VI or VII or X, *Paramabhāgavata-śri-Skandagupta-Kramāditya*.

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The title *Kramāditya* occurs so regularly and on so large a number of coins that we cannot regard it as an abbreviation of *Vikramāditya*, dictated by the smallness of space or caused by the carelessness of the engraver. It occurs also on the gold coins of Skandagupta. We must therefore assume that this ruler had taken both the *birudas*, *Kramāditya* and *Vikramāditya*.

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(1) Silver; .5"; 30.1 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XX. 22. *Obv:* Bust of the king truncated in front. No Greek letters. *Rev:* Altar in the centre; legend, (V) *Parama-bhagavata-śra-Skandgupta-Kramadatya*.

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(Pl. XVIII. 13)

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(2) Silver; .5"; 28.4 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XX. 23. *Obv:* Bust fairly entire; no Greek letters. *Rev:* Legend (VIII) *Paramabhagavata-śra-Skandagupta-Kramadatya*; concluding letters partly truncated. Note the irregular size of the coin.

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(Pl. XVIII. 14)

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(3) Silver; .5"; 29.6 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XX. 29. *Obv:* In front of the bust, Greek letters HOH, on the head UU. *Rev:* Legend (V) *Paramabhagavata-śra-Skandagupta*; concluding letters partly preserved.

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(Pl. XVIII. 15)

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(4) Silver; .4"; 24.7 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XXI. 8. *Obv:* Face truncated. *Rev:* Defective legend (XII) *Para-śra-Skandagupta-Kramadatya*.

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(Without any āditya biruda)

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(1) Silver; .4"; 29 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XXI. 11. *Obv:* Crude bust of the king to right; Greek letters UHI. *Rev:* Altar truncated above; to some extent it looks like a crude Garuḍa; legend (V) Parama.........*Skandagupta*. (Pl. XVIII. 17)

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(2) Silver; .4"; 30.5 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XXI. 12. *Obv:* Bust truncated in front; OI behind. *Rev:* Altar complete; Legend (V) Parama.........*Skandagupta*. (Pl. XVIII. 18)

Class IV: Madhyadeśa Type

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The coins of this type show the fan-tailed peacock on the reverse, first introduced by Kumāragupta. The features of the king on the obverse are similar to those of his father on this class. His nose is flat and there are no moustaches. The coins of this class are larger in size and better in execution than those of the classes I to III prevailing in Western India. The normal weight varies between 30 and 32 grains, though some pieces are as heavy as 36.7 grains and others as light as 26.5 grains. The date is given in front of the face; the dates so far read are 144; 145, 146 and 148 G. E., corresponding to 463, 464, 465, and 467 A.D.

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Two varieties are distinguished in this class; in variety A the legend is *Vijitāvaniravanipatir-jayati divam Skandaguptoyam* (Pl. XXVI. 18); in variety B, *Vijitavaniravanipatis Śrī-Skandagupto divam jayati* (Pl. XXVI. 17).

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COINS ILLUSTRATED : 5

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Variety A

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(Legend ending with *Skandaguptoyam*)

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(1) Silver; .6"; 32.1 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XXI. 14. *Obv:* Bust of the king to r.; in front, date in numerals arranged perpendicularly, 100, 40, 4.

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*Rev:* Fan-tailed peacock; legend (XI) *Vijitāvaniravanapata (jayata divam Ska)ndaguptoyam*.

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(2) Silver; .6"; 34.8 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XXI. 16. *Obv:* As above; date 100, 40, 8. *Rev:* Legend (XII), *Vajatavanaravanapatirjayata dava Skandaguptaya*. (Pl. XVIII. 20)

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(Legend ending with *divam jayati*)

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(3) Silver; .55"; 31.2 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XXI. 20. *Obv:* Bust entire, but date numerals truncated. 100, 40. *Rev:* Legend blurred, from IX, *divam jayati*. (Pl. XVIII. 21)

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(4) Silver; .55"; 33.5 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl.XXI.21. *Obv:* Eyes very prominent, nose slightly crooked; date blurred, 100, 40. *Rev:* Legend (XII) *Vijatavanaravanpata śra-Skandagupto divam jayati*; letters between I and V blurred and truncated. (Pl. XVIII. 22)

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N.B. The fabric of this and the next coin is different from that of the last one,

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(5) Silver; .55"; 36 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XXI. 22. *Obv:* As above; date off the flan. *Rev:* Legend (XII), *Vi(jatava)naravana(pata) śra Skandagupta dava jayati*. (Pl. XVIII. 23)

Chaitya Type (?)

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Cunningham has published a silver coin, which he described as follows:—

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*Obv:* King's head with moustaches to right. *Rev:* Chaitya symbol. Legend in old Gupta characters very much crowded together; *Mahārāja-Kumāragupta-parama-mahāditya-mahārāja-Skandagupta* (?).

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“Mr. Newton has published a similar coin (*J.B.B.R.A.S.*, Vol. VII, p. 12 and fig. 13) of which he remarks that ‘the title Mahārāja refers it to the Gupta series, while the addition of the father’s name forms a connecting link with the coins of the Satraps of Saurashtra.’ Mr. Newton reads the name of the king as Rudra or Nanda. I think, however, that it is intended for Skandagupta, the letters being so crowded together that only portions of them could be delineated on the coin. I should have liked to read *Devagupta*, but there is a tail to the second letter on both coins which points to *nd* or *ndra*. Perhaps the name may be Chandragupta III, which would be a natural appellation of Kumāra’s eldest son, as it has always been a Hindu custom to name one child after its grand-father.”¹

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¹ C.A.S.R., Vol. IX. p. 24; Pl. V. 8.

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While commenting upon the above view of Cunningham Smith observes that a name which can be read as Rudra, Nanda, Skanda or Chandra may fairly be regarded as illegible. Fleet, who had examined the legend, regarded almost every letter as doubtful.

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Cunningham was a great authority on Indian numismatics and one cannot lightly set aside his reading. But he was himself not sure of the reading he proposed. After carefully examining the facsimiles of the coins published by Newton and Cunningham, which are reproduced in this work, I have come to the conclusion that no Gupta king, who was son of Kumāra, had issued these coins. They are really the coins of Dahrasena of the Traikūṭaka dynasty. The legend on the coins of this ruler reads *Mahārājendradattaputra-paramavaishṇava-śrī Mahārāja-Dahrasenasya*. Now it may be noted that Newton had actually proposed to read *Mahārājendra-putrasya*² on his coin and his facsimile makes it quite clear that the letters following are *datta*. On Cunningham’s coin the base line under the Chaitya comes immediately below the letters *ndradatta* and this has led to the amputation of the lower part of *ndra*; the next two letters can be read as *datta* by any student of the Traikūṭaka coinage. The name Skandagupta was not definitely read either by Newton or by Cunningham; the letters of the legend at this place were intended to be Dahrasena. They are blurred on the coin of Cunningham, hence his conjecture that the name may be Rudra, Nanda or Skanda. Cunningham's reading *mahāditya* is conjectural; the letters are all off the flan.

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² *J.B.B.R.A.S.*, Vol. VII. p. 12.

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The above discussion will show that no son of Kumāragupta issued any coins imitating the reverse device of the Kshatrapa coinage. The name Skanda is not at all legible on the coins. We cannot therefore assume that Sknadagupta had issued any coins with Chaitya on the reverse. The coins under discussion are Traikūṭaka coins.

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We have illustrated these coins in Pl. XVIII and shall describe them below.

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(1) Silver; .6"; weight not known; *J.B.B.R.A.S.*, VII, p. 12. *Obv:* Bust of the king of the Kshatrapa type to right; collar on the neck clear; moustaches on the face. No traces of Greek letters. *Rev:* In the centre, three arched Chaitya, looking like a crude human face in the drawing; legend, beginning at VI, *Maharajandradattaputra-paramavashṇava-śra-maharaja-Dahrasana*; out of these letters *maharajandradatta-putra* are distinct; *parama* is partly legible; *vashṇava-śra* are truncated; *da* is indicated just by a line; *hra* is indistinct and *na* is also indicated by a line. (Pl. XVIII, 24)

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(2) Silver; weight not known; size, .6"; *C.A.S.R.*, Vol. IX, Pl. V. 8. *Obv:* Bust of the king of the Kshatrapa type to right; no traces of Greek letters.

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*Rev:* Legend, beginning at XII, *Maharajandradatta-puttra-paramavaishnava-śra-maharaja-Dahrsasana*. Of these letters, *ndra* is cut off at the base, *da* is indicated by a line; *para* are very big letters at V; *vaishnava* are blurred; the rest of the letters are failry distinct.