The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c15.s2.t4: Chaitya Type (?)

The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c15.s2.t4

Language: English

Chaitya Type (?)

c15.s2.t4.1

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

c15.s2.t4.2

*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* (?).

“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

c15.s2.t4.4

¹ C.A.S.R., Vol. IX. p. 24; Pl. V. 8.

c15.s2.t4.5

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.

c15.s2.t4.6

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.

c15.s2.t4.7

² *J.B.B.R.A.S.*, Vol. VII. p. 12.

c15.s2.t4.8

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.

c15.s2.t4.9

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

c15.s2.t4.10

(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)

c15.s2.t4.11

(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.

c15.s2.t4.12

*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.