The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c15.s1: (1) Gold Coinage

The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c15.s1

Language: English

c15.s1.t1 The Archer Type — 19 parts
c15.s1.t2 King and Lakshmī Type — 21 parts
c15.s1.t3 Chhatra Type — 6 parts
c15.s1.t4 Horseman Type — 6 parts

(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.