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The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c15.s2: (2) Silver Coinage of Skandagupta

The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c15.s2

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(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.