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The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c16: Chapter XI: Coinage of the Successors of Skandagupta

The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c16

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Contents

Chapter XI: Coinage of the Successors of Skandagupta

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COINAGE OF THE

(1) Purugupta

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Skandagupta had a brother named Purugupta, but it is not yet certain as to when he ruled. Purugupta is known to us from the seals of his descendants Kumāragupta II¹ and Viṣṇugupta.² These seals, while giving the genealogy, refer to Kumāragupta I and then immediately pass on to Purugupta as a *Mahārājādhirāja*, omitting his brother Skandagupta altogether. Owing to the absence of conclusive evidence, it is possible to argue that (1) Purugupta of the Bhitari and Nālandā seals is identical with Skandagupta, or (2) that he is his half-borther, who unsuccessfully contested his succession in *c.* 455 A. D., or (3) that he succeeded Skandagupta after his death, the latter having no son of his own. It is not possible for us to discuss these different theories in this work; nor is it necessry to do so. It is very unlikely that Skandagupta and Purugupta could have been identical; why should the name Purugupta occur only on seals and not in any of the inscriptions ? Since Purugupta is expressly described as *Mahārājādhirāja* in two seals, he may be presumed to have ruled after the death of Skandagupta for the short period of a year or two during *c.* 468-9 A.D. He is not likely to have contested Skandagupta’s succession. The question we have to consider now is whether he had issued any coins.

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¹ *J.A.S.B.*, 1889 pp. 84-105.

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² *E.I.*, XXVI., p. 235.

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Till quite recently it was generally held that Purugupta had issued gold coins of the Archer type assuming the *biruda* Vikrama. One variety of these coins had no distinctive name of the emperor on the obverse, the reverse giving only the legend *Śrīvikrama*. On a solitary coin of the other variety, however, along with the legend *Śrīvikrama* on the reverse, there was a name under the king's left arm. This name was read as *Pura* by Mr. Allan¹ and it was therefore assumed that all heavy weight coins with the *biruda* *Śrīvikrama* were the issues of Purugupta.

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¹ B.M.C., G.D., p. 134.

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Mr. S.K. Saraswati was the first to challenge the correctness of the reading *Pura*, proposed by Mr. Allan. He maintained that the perpendicular legend under the left arm read as *Budha* and therefore the coin should be ascribed to Budhagupta.²

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² *Indian Culture*, Vol. I. p. 692.

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For a long time, the question could not be settled with certainty. For, on the solitary coin known till 1948 the first letter could be read both as *pu* or *bu*.³ The second letter could be taken as a slightly misshapen *dha* or a blurred *ra*, the flan having moved during the striking. In 1948, however, two new coins of this type were found, where the reading of the obverse legend under the arm was clearly *Budha*, and the reverse legend was *Śrīvikrama*. It thus became quite clear that the king, who issued these coins, was Budhagupta and not Purugupta. It is also very probable that the heavy weight Archer type coins, having the legend *Śrīvikrama* on the reverse, were also the issues of the same emperor. We have therefore to conclude that Purugupta was different from Skandagupta and ruled as a *Mahārājādhirāja* after his reign, and that gold coins bearing his personal name have not yet seen the light of the day. It is however likely that the coins with *biruda* *Prakāśāditya* may have been issued by him. We shall discuss this point later.

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³ If the letter is taken to have a top *mātrā*, it can be read as *pu*; if the top *mātrā* is regarded as a part of the letter, it can be read as *bu*.

(2) Ghaṭotkachagupta

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The Tumain fragmentary inscription, dated 116 G. E. (435 A. D.), refers to a prince named Ghaṭotkacha,¹ who appears to have been a son, or perhaps a brother of Kumāragupta I, ruling at Mālwā as its imperial viceroy. It is possible to attribute to him the solitary Archer type coin in the St. Petersburg (Leningrad) Museum, which bears the legend Ghaṭo under the king's left arm. We shall first describe this unique coin.

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¹ E.I., XXVI. p. 115

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Gold; .8"; weight not known; St. Petersburg (Leningrad) Museum; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XXIV. 3. *Obv:* King, nimbate, standing l. bow with string inwards in l. hand and arrow in r.; *Garuḍadhvaja* behind the r. hand. Legend under the l. arm, *Ghaṭo*. Only illegible traces of circular legend. *Rev:* Lakshmī, nimbate, seated facing on lotus with lotus of long stalk in l. hand and noose in r. Symbol on l. Legend on r., *Kramādityaḥ*. (Pl. XIV. 16)

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There is only one coin of this ruler and its attribution is not free from difficulty. The view of Dr. Bloch that it may have been an issue of Ghaṭotkacha, the father of Chandragupta I, is untenable. The Archer type was not introduced in the Gupta series till the time of his grandson. Further, it is not at all probable that the coinage could have been started by Ghaṭotkcha, who was a petty ruler. The coin will have to be attributed either to Ghaṭotkachagupta of the Tumain record, mentioned above, or to Ghaṭotkachagupta of Vaiśālī seal, or to a hither-to unknown later scion of Gupta family of that name ruling towards the end of the fifth century.

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Mr. Allan is inclined to support the last mentioned view,² primarily on account of the treatment of the legs of the goddess on the reverse which, according to him, indicates that Ghaṭotkacha of the coin was a contemporary of Kumāragupta II;¹ (cf. Pl. XIV. 16 and XV. 4-5). Fresh discoveries have now shown that Kumāragupta II was not ruling between *c.* 530 and 540 A.D., as Mr. Allan had thought,² but about 60 years earlier, from *c.* 472 to 475 A.D. The treatment of the legs of the goddess need not therefore stand in the way of placing this coin in *c.* 470 A.D. It is quite possible that Ghaṭotkachagupta, the governor of Mālwa, might well have survived Kumāragupta I by ten or fifteen years. During the troubled period following the death of Skandagupta, his brother Ghaṭotkachagupta might have assumed independence and started issuing gold coinage. Being a very old man at *c.* 470 A. D. he could not have ruled long and his coinage therefore is scanty. Being issued at about 470 A.D., it naturally shows some stylistic affinity in the treatment of the legs of the goddess with the coinage of Kumāragupta II, who ascended the imperial throne in *c.* 472. A.D.

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² B.M.C., G.D., liv, civ.

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¹ The point of similarly is the slight raising of the legs of the goddess. But it may be pointed out that this is not a uniform characteristic of the coinage of Kumāragupta II (cf. Pl. XV. 6).

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² B.M.C., G.D., p. 140.

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It is therefore possible to propose the identification of Ghaṭotkachagupta of the St. Petersberg coin with Ghaṭotkachagupta of the Tumain inscription. This theory is, however, not free from difficulties, for it presupposes that the two rival brothers had the same *biruda* Kramāditya; such a thing is so far unknown. It has further to be admitted that the Tumain inscription does not enable us to find out the precise relationship between Kumāragupta I, the ruling emperor, and Ghaṭotkachagupta, the Mālwa governor; the latter may as well have been a brother of Kumāragupta and not his son. In that case he may be identical with Ghaṭotkachagupta of the seal found at Vaiśālī. If we assume this to be the case, then we shall have to admit that it is not very likely that a brother of Kumāragupta could have survived him by 15 years and issued coins during the troubled period between 468 A.D. and 472 A.D. It is, however, possible to suggest that he might have contested the accession of his nephew Skandagupta in 455 A.D. and issued coins at that time. As Skandagupta reasserted himself in a short time, the coinage of his rebellious uncle could not be numerous.¹

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¹ See also Addenda at the end of the book.

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The evidence, so far available, is so meagre and inconclusive that it is not possible to be certain about the identification of the issuer of the coin under discussion. Its weight also is not recorded; had it been known, we may have been in a better position to tackle the question of its attribution. We have to await fresh discoveries for the proper solution of the mystery surrounding this solitary coin.

(3) Narasimhagupta

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Recent discoveries have now conclusively shown that Purugupta had two sons, Narasimhagupta and Budhagupta.² Narasimhagupta, who was probably the elder, succeeded his father. He had, however, a short reign, because we find his son Kumāragupta II on the throne in 473 A.D. Kumāragupta also had probably a brief rule, for we find his uncle Budhagupta ruling from *c.* 476 to 495 A. D. Kumāragupta's son Viṣṇugupta also eventually became a king. Whether he had to wait till the death of his grand-uncle Budhagupta, or whether he ruled contemporaneously with him over a part of Gupta empire, we do not know. We have indicated his hesitating preference for the last alternative in Chap. I., p. 9.

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² M.A.S.I., No. 66. pp. 64-66.

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If, however, we reject the theory of the division of the Gupta empire and assume that Narasimhagupta and Kumāragupta of relatively purer gold coinage are different from the rulers of the same name who issued coins in baser gold, we can suggest the following succession table, which also is not free from difficulties.

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1. Purugupta, brother of Skandagupta; *c.* 468 to 470 A.D.; known from the Bhitari seal; no gold coins unless we attribute the Prakāśāditya coins to him.

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2. Narasimhagupta Bālāditya I, son or Purugupta; *c.* 470-472 A.D.; mentioned in the Bhitari seal; issued gold coins, here described as of class I, in purer gold with 29% alloy; introduces the fashion of a letter between the feet; *gre* on his coins; traces of circular legend.

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3. Kumāragupta II, son of Narasimhagupta I; *c.* 472 to 475 A.D.; supplanted by his uncle in 475 A.D.; issued gold coins of the class I with 21% alloy; these are few in number and have circular legend, but no letter between the feet.

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4. Budhagupta, brother of No. 2; *c.* 475 to 496 A. D.; few gold coins with the personl name; alloy 23%; circular legend present but no letter between the feet.

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5. Prakāśāditya; relationship not known; may be placed between *c.* 496 to 500 A. D. if not identical with Purugupta; circular legend; letters *ru* and *ma* under the horse; alloy 23%.

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6. Vainyagupta; relationship unknown; *c.* 500 to 510 A.D. or *c.* 496 to 510 A.D. if we identify Prakāśāditya with Purugupta. Date 508 supplied by the Gunaighar plate; circular legend; the letter *bhā* between the feet; alloy 27%.

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7. Bhānugupta; relationship unknown; *c.* 510 to 518 A.D.; his general Goparāja was killed in Eraṇ in 510 A.D. probably in the Hūṇa war; no coins known.

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8. Narasimhagupta II Bālāditya; relationship unknown; perhaps identical with Narasimhagupta of the fragmentary Nālandā seal; *c.* 518 to 532 A.D.; eventually overthrew Mihirakula in *c.* 530; issued gold coins, here called of class II, with 46% alloy and the letter *gre* between the feet but with no circular legend.

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9. Kumāragupta III; son of No. 8; *c.* 532-540 A.D.; perhaps identical with the Kumāragupta of the fragmentary Nālandā seal and the ruler in Damodarpur copper plate, dated 543 A.D., where name is not quite legible but has been taken to be Kumāragupta by some scholars; issued numerous gold coins of class II with 46% alloy having the letters *go* and *ja* between the feet, but no circular legend. Coins mostly from the Kālighāt hoard.

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10. Viṣṇugupta, son of No. 10; *c.* 540 to 550 A.D.; perhaps identical with Viṣṇugupta of the fragmentary Nālandā seal; many gold coins of base gold with 57% alloy in the Kālighāt hoard; letter *ru* between the feet and no circular legend. In Berhampur in Cuttuck district one gold coin of this ruler was found along with 47 gold coins of Prasannamātra,¹ who ruled sometime between *c.* 550 to 650 A.D.

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¹ A.S.I., A.R., 1926-7, p. 270.

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As against the above order of succession it may be pointed out that we cannot with confidence differentiate between two rulers of the same name, merely because there is a greater alloy in one class of their coins than in another; Kumāragupta I issued pure silver coins along with silver-coated pieces. It is doubtful whether we can distinguish between Narasiṃhagupta and Kumāragupta of the Bhitari seal and the rulers of the same name in the fragmentary Nālandā seal. If we analyse the account of Bālāditya's prolonged and desperate fight with Mihirakula given by Yuan Chwang, it appears very doubtful whether a king beset with so many difficulties could ever have issued copious currency even in base gold. Viṣṇugupta could as well have ruled at *c.* 500 A.D. and yet his solitary coin can well be found along with 47 coins of Prasannamātra in the Berhampur hoard. A Gupta king ruling between 540 and 550 A.D. is not likely to have issued even debased gold currency as copious as that of Viṣṇugupta.

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We are not yet in a position to confidently propose any theory about the succession of the later Gupta emperors, which can meet with general acceptance. We therefore prefer to follow the tentative chronology suggested in Chap. I.

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Narasimhagupta Bālāditya ruled as an emperor from *c.* 470 to 472 A.D. He has to be differentiated from his homonym, who has been credited with the expulsion of Mihirakula by Yuan Chwang in *c.* 530 A. D. Though he had a short reign and lived in troubled times, his coinge is not scanty; we have so far found about 50 pieces issued by him.¹ Most of these coins were found in the Kālighāṭ hoard, though one was found in Nadea district of Bengal. The trouble through which the empire was passing during the reign of this emperor is reflected by the alloy of 54% in most of his coins. Obviously the treasury was depleted owing to the internecine struggle. A few coins of his, however, have only 21% alloy. All his gold coins are issued to the *suvarṇa* standard of 144 grains, and some are even four or five grains heavier. Their size varies from .8" to .95".

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¹ *J.A.S.B.*, p. 1889, pp. 17-18.

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The coinage of Narasimhagupta is confined to the Archer type only. It can be divided into two classes, class I where the metal is relatively purer and there is a circular legend on the obverse, and class II, where the metal is base, the execution crude and the circular legend non-existing. Both the varieties have the letter *gre* or *gu* between the feet. The gold in the *B.M.C.* coin No. 560 of class I was found to be 79% and that in the *B.M.C.* coin No. 565 of class II 54%.

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It is, however, not impossible that the coins of the class II may have been issued by Narasimhagupta Bālāditya, the opponent of Mihirakula, and that the coins of the class I only may be the issues of Narasimhagupta, the son and successor of Purugupta. As the latter had a short reign of about three years, he is not likely to have left us a numerous coinage. The coins in the Kālighāṭ hoard may all have belonged to Narasimhagupta II, the opponent of Mihirakula. It is important to note that none of the coins of class I have so far been traced to this hoard. In the present state of our knowledge, it is difficult to state whether this possibility is more probable than the other view that all the coins bearing the name of Nara are to be attributed to the son of Purugupta and nephew of Skandagupta.

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It is Narasimhagupta, who first introduces single letters between the feet of the king. On the coins of this ruler the letter *gre* or *gu* appears on the coins of both the varieties. Such letters occurred on the late Kushāṇa coins, but were discontinued by the early Gupta emperors. Why they were introduced by Narasimhagupta and continued by most of his successors and what was their significance is not yet known. The letter occurring on the coins of this emperor appears to be *gu* or *gre*.

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We shall now proceed to describe the coins of Narasimhagupta, illustrated in the plate.

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CLASS I

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(With circular legend on the obverse and lesser alloy)¹

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¹ *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XXII, 7-9.

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(1) Gold; .9"; 144.5 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XXII. 7. Obv: King, nimbate, standing to l. and holding bow in l. hand and arrow in r. and wearing *dhoti*, sash and jewelry; Garuḍa standard on l. Legend, under the l. arm of the king, *Nara*;² circular legend incomplete and uncertain.³ Between feet, *gre*.

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² So far no coins have been found giving any letters outside the bow-string like *simha* or *gupta*.

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³ Mr. Allan states that the portion on the left reads *Narasimhagupta* on this coin (p. 137); the facsimile given in the *Catalogue*, which is reproduced here, enables us to read only the letter *sa* just below Garuḍa; the preceding two letters look like *Napa* rather than *Nara*.

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*Rev:* Lakshmi seated on lotus facing to front, noose in r. hand and lotus in l.; border of dots. Symbol on the l. Legend, *Bālādityaḥ*.

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**CLASS II** (Without circular legend on the obverse and with greater alloy)

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(2) Gold; .8"; 144.8 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XXII. 11. The same as above, but without any circular legend on the obverse. (Pl. XV. 2)

(4) Coinage of Kumaragupta II

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Narasimhagupta was succeeded by his son Kumāragupta II. Inscriptions at Sarnath show that he was on the throne in 473 A.D., but that he was succeeded by his uncle Budhagupta sometime in or before 476 A.D.¹ If we assume that he did not continue to rule along with Budhagupta in a part of the Gupta empire, his reign will be a short one. His coins are, however, fairly numerous, and they also show some variations on the obverse; the letter between the king's feet is *jo* in some cases and *gā* or *go* in others. Numismatic evidence thus suggests that he should have ruled longer than four years. It is therefore best to assume that he continued to rule over a small part of the Gupta dominion as a feudatory of Budhagupta even after 476 A. D. and was succeeded in his principality by his son Vishṇugupta. Both the father and the son were probably ruling somewhere in Bengal, as most of their coins hail from the Kālighāṭ hoard. Coins of class I, which have lesser alloy,² may have been issued when Kumāragupta II was ruling over the whole Gupta empire; coins of class II, which have greater alloy,³ may belong to the later stage of his career, when he had become a mere feudatory.

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¹ *A.S.I., A.R.*, 1914-5, pp. 124-5.

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² Coin No. 571 of the *B.M.C.* belonging to this class has an alloy of 21% only.

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³ Coin No. 576 of the *B.M.C.* belonging to this class has an alloy of 46%.

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There are some indications to suggest that a Kumāragupta III may have flourished in Magadha towards the middle of the 6th century; Damodarpur copperplate of the year 224 G. E. (543 A. D.),¹ where the name of the issuer is imperfectly preserved, is presumed to have contained the name of Kumāragupta by some scholars and of Budhagupta and Viṣṇugupta by others.² If there was Kumāragupta III, who ruled during *c.* 540 to 550 A.D., it is not impossible that he might have issued the coins of class II. Coins of class II are however numerous and one may wonder whether Kumāragupta III ruling in *c.* 540 A.D. had leisure enough to issue such a copious currency, when his kingdom was threatened by Yaśodharman, the Maukharis and the Later Guptas. Further discoveries alone can settle this question.

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¹ *Ep. Ind.*, XV, p. 142; XVII. p. 193, Sircar, *Select Inscriptions*, p. 337.

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² D. C. Sircar, *Select Inscriptions*, p. 337.

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In the genealogy of the Later Guptas of Magadha, we have also a Kumāragupta, ruling by the middle of the 7th century. Very probably none of the coins we are discussing now were issued by him. For no other ruler of that dynasty is so far known to have issued any gold coins, similar to those we are discussing at present.

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The coins of Kumāragupta II are all in gold only and confined to the Archer type. The type shows no variations in the manner of holding the bow. Classes however can be distinguished by the presence or absence of the letters between the king's feet. Coins of class I have no letters between the king's feet and have an alloy of 29% only; the circular legend is mostly off and the reverse legend is *Kramāditya* only and not *Śrī-Kramāditya*. Coins of class II have letters between the feet and have 46% alloy. Such traces of the circular legend as remain show that it was intended to be *Mahārājādhirāja-śrī-* *Kumāragupta-Kramādityaḥ* (Pl. XXVI. 19). The reverse legend is *Śrī-Kramāditya* and not merely *Kramāditya*. The variety A shows the letter *go*¹ between the feet and the variety B, *jā* or *jo*. These letters must obviously have had a significance, but unfortunately we cannot yet make it out. Probably they are the initials of local governors.

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¹ It is tempting to suggest that *Go* may stand for *Goparāja*, who was killed while fighting the Hūṇas in 510 A.D. But his suzerain was Bhānugupta and Goparāja was unlikely to have been a contemporary of Kumāragupta II, whose reign probably did not extend beyond 485 or 490 A.D.

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The Archer type of Kumāragupta II can be easily distinguished from class II of the same type of Kumāragupta I. It is true that on both, we have only the letter *Ku* under the arm. But there is a marked difference in weight; the coins of Kumāragupta I weigh only about 124 grains, while those of Kumāragupta II are at least 20 grains heavier. The *biruda* on the reverse of the one is *Mahendra*, while that on the other is *Kramāditya*. Smith had suggested that the coins of class I may be the issues of Kumāragupta I,² but the reverse legend *Kramāditya* of these coins goes against that theory. The *biruda* of Kumāragupta I was always *Mahendra* or *Mahendrāditya* and never *Kramāditya*.

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² *J.R.A.S.*, 1889, p. 94.

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We now proceed to describe the coins of this ruler, illustrated in this work.

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CLASS I

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(With no letter between king's feet)³

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³ *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XXII. 13-14.

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(1) Gold; ·8"; 143 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XXII. 14. *Obv:* King, nimbate, head bare, hair curly, standing l. holding bow in l. hand and arrow in r.; Garuḍa standard behind the r. arm. Below the l. arm *Ku* with crescent above. Marginal legend mostly off the flan, the traces of the last letter *pta* alone being visible on l. No letter between the feet. *Rev:* Goddess Lakshmī seated on lotus facing, with lotus in l. hand and noose in r. hand. Symbol on left. Legend, *Kramāditya*. (Pl. XV. 3)

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(Base gold and letters between king's feet)¹

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(With letter *go* between king's feet)

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(2) Gold; .75"; 149.2 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XXIII. 2. *Obv:* As in class I, but with the letter *go* between the feet. Traces of *Mahārājādharāja-śrī-Ku* on the r. *Rev:* Same as in class I but the legend is *Śrī-Kramādityaḥ* and not *Kramādityaḥ* only. Symbol on l. (Pl. XV. 4)

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(3) Gold; .75"; 148.¹ grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XXII.15. *Obv:* Same as above, but no traces of marginal inscription and a wheel-like object near the upper end of the bow. (Pl. XV. 5)

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¹ B.M.C., G.D., Pl. XXII, 15, XXIII, 1-3; C.M.I., Pl. II, 2.

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*Rev:* As above.

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Variety B

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(With the letter *jā* or *jo* between the king's feet)

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(4) Gold; .8", 148.7 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XXIII. 5. *Obv:* As in variety A, circular legend *rajadharaja*; *jo* between the feet. *Rev:* As above. Symbol on l. Legend, *Śrī-Kramāditya*. (Pl. XV. 6)

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(5) Gold; .8"; 147.5 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XXIII. 4. *Obv:* As above; circular legend, *..rājādhrāja*; *jā* between the feet.

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*Rev*: As above. Legend, *Śra-Kramāditya*.

(5) Coinage of Budhagupta

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There is no doubt that the Gupta empire regained much of its lost prestige during the reign of Budhagupta (*c.* 475-495 A.D.).¹ Though this emperor had a fairly long reign, his coinage, both in gold and silver, is very scarce. For a long time only a few silver pieces of this ruler were known, and it was thought that he had issued no gold coinage at all. The present writer had once suggested that the coins of Prakāśāditya may be ascribed to Budhagupta, as it was very unlikely that a powerful king, who had issued silver coinage, would have refrained from minting gold pieces. Mr. S. K. Saraswati had suggested that the coin in *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XXI. 23 should be attributed to Budhagupta, as the legend under the left arm reads *Budha* rather than *Pura*.² This coin, being somewhat blurred at the legend, no definite opinion could be expressed about the reading of the disputed word. If the upper horizontal line is taken as a part of the letter, it can be taken as *bu*; if it is taken as an extended serif, it appears like *pu*. The lower letter could be taken as a blurred *ra*, if the flan was assumed to have moved a little while striking; otherwise it appeared like a misshapen *dha*.

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¹ If the reading of the date 180 on one of his silver coins were definite, his reign would extend to 499 A.D.

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² *Indian Culture*, I, p. 692.

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Two new coins discovered in 1948, however, made it quite clear that the legend under discussion was *Budha* and not *Pura*. Both these coins are in the Banaras Hindu University, one in the cabinet of the Bhārata Kalā Bhavana, and the other in the College of Indology. The reading on the former is absolutely distinct. It is now clear that Mr. Saraswati was right in suggesting that the legend under the left arm should be read as *Budha* and not as *Pura*.

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The *biruda* of king Budhagupta on all the three gold coins, where his name appears on the obverse, is *Śrī-Vikrama*. There are, however, some other Archer type coins, which have this same *biruda* on the reverse, but which give no name of the issuer on the obverse. The coins show a general resemblance to the coins of Budhagupta in type, size and weight, and it is likely that they may have been issued by the same ruler. We have a parallel case in the Archer type of Kumāragupta I, where neither the name Kumāra nor the letter *Ku* occurs on the obverse of the variety C, only his *biruda* appearing on the reverse. In his Tiger-slayer type also, the letter *Ku* is present in one variety on the obverse and absent in the other. We cannot, however, altogether exclude the possibility of the coins without the name Budha on the obverse and with the *biruda* Vikrama on the reverse being issued by a hither-to-unknown Gupta emperor of the 5th or the early 6th century A. D. These coins were once attributed to Chandragupta II, because of the reverse *biruda* Vikrama, which was adopted by him; but the heavy weight of these coins,—142 grains,—makes this ascription extremely improbable. It is therefore best to assume that the heavy weight Archer type coins with the legend Vikrama on the reverse were issued by Budhagupta, who is now definitely known to have adopted that epithet. The alloy in one of these coins, *B.M.C.* No. 552, was found to be 23%. The coins of Budhagupta are thus not more impure than those of Skandagupta.

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Budhagupta confined himself only to the Archer type, which shows no variations in details. The king is always facing left, holding the bow at the top. In class I, the name of the king Budha is engraved under the left arm; in class II, this feature is absent. There is a circular legend on the obverse, but it has not yet become possible to decipher it, as it is fragmentary and indistinct. Initial letters appear to be *paraha*; it may have begun with *Parahitakārī*.

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We now proceed to describe the coins illustrated.

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(With the legend *Budha* on the obverse)¹

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¹ *J.N.S.I.*, XII. p. 112.

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(1) Gold; .8"; 144.5 grains; College of Indology, Banaras Hindu University. *Obv:* King, nimbate, standing to l. wearing *dhoti* and ornaments, holding in l. hand bow at the top with string inside, and arrow in right hand. Garuḍa standard behind the r. hand. Below l. arm, *Budha* written perpendicularly, but rather blurred. Circular legend, beginning at I, *Para*. *Rev:* Goddess Lakshmī, nimbate, seated on lotus holding a noose in r. hand and a lotus in l. Symbol on l.; legend on r. blurred, *Śrīvikrama*. (Pl. XV. 9)

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(2) Gold; .8"; 144.8 grains; Bhārata Kalā Bhavana, Banaras Hindu University. *Obv:* As above, but the letters under the arm *Budha* are quite distinct. No traces of the circular legend. *Rev:* As above, but the lotus on which the goddess is seated is partly off the flan. Legend blurred. (Pl. XV. 8)

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(3) Gold; .95"; weight not recorded; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XXI. 23. *Obv:* King, nimbate, standing to l., holding bow at the top in l. hand and arrow in r.; Garuḍa standard in front of the king. Under l. arm, below crescent, *Budha*, the last letter being slightly blurred owing to the flan having moved during striking. *Rev:* Goddess seated on lotus, facing, holding a noose in r. hand and a lotus in the l.; symbol blurred. Legend, *Śravakama*, blurred. (Pl. XV. 10)

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(Without the king's name on the obverse)

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(4) Gold; .9"; 142.7 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XXI. 24. *Obv*: As above. Circular legend *Para*. No legend under the l. arm. *Rev*: As above. Legend, *Śrivikramaḥ* quite clear, (Pl. XV. 11)

Silver Coinage of Budhagupta

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The silver coinage, which was in abeyance during the reigns of Purugupta, Narasiṃhagupta and Kumāragupta II, was resumed by Budhagupta. He is seen issuing coins only in the Madhyadeśa type. No coins of his of any of the Western Indian types have so far come to light. Most probably the Guptas had lost their control over Western Provinces by this time. It is true that the Valabhi ruler Droṇasiṃha, who was coronated in the last quarter of the 5th century, is described as being installed by the sole lord of the circumference of the whole earth, who had personally come for that purpose. It seems most probable that this sole lord of the whole earth is most likely the emperor Budhagupta. The invitation that was extended to him on this occasion, however, appears to be due to the prestige that the Guptas were still enjoying in the former provinces of their empire. It appears very doubtful whether Budhagupta had any effective control over Mālwā, Gujarat and Kathiawar at any period of his reign. The absence of his silver coins of any of the Western Indian types appears to be significant.

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The Madhyadeśa type of Budhagupta is exactly similar to that of Kumāragupta or Skandagupta. The features of the face are slightly different; the nose is aquiline. The date is given in front in numerals. There are no traces of any Greek letters. The reverse shows the device of the fan-tailed peacock and the legend is *Vijitāvaniravanipatiḥ-śri-Budhagupto divam jayati* (Pl. XXVI. 20). ‘Budhagupta, who has conquered the earth, wins heaven.’

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The average size of the coins is .55" and weight 33 grains. One specimen, however, weighs 38.5 grains.

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Only six silver coins of Budhagupta have been found so far. Five of them were procured by Cunningham at Banaras in 1835 and the sixth was obtained later by the same archæologist at Sarnath. All the Banaras coins were dated in 175. The date 180 has been read on the sixth piece, but the so-called symbol for 80 is doubtful.¹

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¹ *I.A.*, XVIII, p. 227.

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COINS ILLUSTRATAD : 4

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(1) Silver; .55"; 38.3 grains; *B.M.C.,G.D.*, Pl.XXIV.13. *Obv:* Bust of the king to r.; date in front in symbols inscribed perpendicularly, 100,70,5, rather blurred. *Rev:* Fan-tailed peacock with neck to .; circular legend blurred; (XII) *Vijitavanaravanapata-śra-Budhagupto divam jayata*. Letters Budhagupto are clear from VII onwards. (Pl. XVIII. 26)

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(2) Silver; .55"; 33.6 grains; *B.M.C.,G.D.*, Pl.XXIV.14. *Obv:* As above, but date off the flan. *Rev:* As above; legend, blurred, but more distinct on the r. side; *Vijatavaniravanpata-śrī-Budhagupto diva jayati*. (Pl. XVIII. 28)

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(3) Silver; .55"; 35 grains; *C.A.S.R*, Vol. IX, Pl. V. 13. *Obv:* As above, but date very distinct, 100, 70, 5. *Rev:* As above. (Pl. XVIII. 27)

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(4) Silver; .55"; 33.8 grains; *B.M.C. G.D.*, Pl.XXIV.15. *Obv:* King’s features resemble the Kshatrapa ones to some extent.

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² *B.M.C.*, *G.D.*, Pl. XXIV. 13-15; *C.A.S.R.*, Vol. IX, Pl. V. 13. *J.R.A.S.*, (O.S.), Vol. XI, Pl. II. 54-7.

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Rev: Legend, ........pata-śri-Budhagupta dava ja(yati).

(6) Vishnugupta

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Vishṇugupta, who was a son of Kumāragupta II,¹ issued gold coins of the Archer type. He may have ascended the throne either after the death of Budhagupta in *c.* 496 A.D., or after the demise of his own father in *c.* 490 A.D. Most of his coins are known to have belonged to the Kālighāṭ hoard; one was found in the Cuttuck district along with 47 coins of king Prasannamātra, a local ruler.² The indications of the findspots would thus suggest that the domain of Vishṇugupta was probably confined to a portion of southern or south-western Bengal.

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¹ *J.N.S.I.*, III, pp. 103-4.

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² *A.S.I., A.R.*, 1926-7, p. 230.

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Vishṇugupta of these coins is to be differentiated from Vishṇugupta of the Later Gupta dynasty, who ruled from *c.* 695 to 715 A.D. No coins of the Later Gupta dynasty have so far come to light.

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The coins of Vishṇugupta weigh between 147 and 151 grains; their size is however rather small; it varies between .75" and .8". His coins are heavily adulterated; *B.M.C.* No. 594 was found to contain an alloy of 57%. Between the king's feet occurs the letter *ru*, which is seen to figure on the coins of Prakāśāditya to be presently discussed. Under the king's left arm, we have the legend *Vishṇu*, but there are no traces of any circular legend on the obverse. The king's *biruda* on the reverse is *Śrī-Chandrāditya*.

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We now proceed to describe the coin illustrated.

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ARCHER TYPE³

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³ *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XXII. 9-12; *I.M.C.*, Vol. I., Pl. II. 9.

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(1) Gold; .8"; 149 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XXIII. 9. *Obv*: King standing nimbate to left, holding bow and arrow. Garuḍa-standard on l. Under the l. arm, beneath a crescent, *Viṣṇu*. No trace of marginal legend.

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*Rev*: Goddess seated on lotus, facing, holding noose in r. hand and a lotus in the l. Symbol on l. Legend, *Śrī-Chandrāditya*.

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(Pl. XV. 12)

(7) Vainyagupta

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The Gunaighar plate¹ disclosed the existence of a Gupta king named Vainyagupta ruling in south Bengal in 507 A.D.; a seal of this ruler was also found at Nālandā. It is therefore clear that Viṣṇugupta was probably succeeded by Vainyagupta in lower Bengal. Another Gupta king, Bhānugupta, is known to be ruling in 510 A.D. over eastern Mālwa. He may have been a contemporary of Vainyagupta or his successor ruling over the main Gupta kingdom. No coins of Bhānugupta have so far come to light.

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¹ *Indian Historical Quarterly*, 1930, p. 45.

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Coins of Vainyagupta were for a long time in our museums, but they were mistaken for those of Chandragupta III. Rapson, who had first read the name under the left arm as *Chandra*, was not sure about his reading.² Mr. Allan admitted that the first letter looked like *va* and the second one like *tya* on *B.M.C.* No. 588, but felt that the reading *Chandra* was fully justified by *B.M.C.* Nos. 588-589 and assigned the coins to a hither-to-unknown Chandragupta III. The medial *mātrā* over the upper letter was taken by him to be a crescent.³

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² *Num. Chr.*, 1891, p. 57.

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³ *B.M.C.*, *G.D.*, liii-liv.

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When the Gunaighar plate disclosed the existence of a king named Vainyagupta, Dr. D. C. Ganguli was the first to propose that the coins in question should be attributed to Vainyagupta.⁴ When once such a name as Vainyagupta was disclosed, the reading of the legend under the arm presented no doubt or difficulty. The so-called crescent over the first letter was clearly a *mātrā* for medial *ai*, and the letter itself was *va* rather than *cha*; the lower letter could stand for a *nya* as well as *ndra*. It is thus clear that the issuer was Vainyagupta and not Chandragupta.

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⁴ *Indian Historical Quarterly*, 1934, p. 195.

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Coins of Vainyagupta, who had adopted the *biruda* of *Dvādaśāditya*, are only in gold and confined to the Archer type. The alloy in one of his coins, *B.M.C.* No. 589, was found to be 27%. Between the king's feet is the letter *bhā*. Bhānugupta, as shown above, was almost a contemporary of Vainyagupta. Can it be that he recognised his suzerainty and worked as his Mālwā viceroy and that Vainyagupta permitted the engraving of the initial of his viceroy on his issues? Vainyagupta's dominion however appears to have been confined to Southern Bengal, as suggested by the find-spots of his coins and copper-plate. Only further discoveries can solve the mystery of the interrelation between these two rulers.

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We now describe the coin of Vainyagupta illustrated in this work.

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(1) Gold; .8"; 144.7 grains; *B.M.C.*, *G.D.*, Pl. XXIII. 8. *Obv:* King, wearing *dhoti*, necklace, armlets and wristlets standing to l.; hair falls on the neck in tresses; he is holding bow in the l. hand and arrow in the r.; Garuḍa standard in front. Indistinct traces of circular legend. *Rev:* Goddess seated on lotus, facing, profuse hair on the head, holding lotus with long stalk in l. hand and noose in r. Symbol, partly visible. Legend, *Dvādaśādityaḥ*.

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(Pl. XV. 13)

(8) Prakaśaditya

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Coins of all the Gupta emperors, known to us from non-pumismatic sources, have been so far discussed. There is one other king Prakāśāditya, who is known only from coins and appears to have flourished in the latter half of the fifth century. We shall discuss his coins now.

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King Prakāśāditya issued coins only in gold. His type is interesting and original. It shows the emperor riding a horse and attacking a lion; it may be therefore called Horseman-Lion-slayer type. It reminds one of the Rhinoceros-slayer type of Kumāragupta I, where the emperor is shown attacking the beast from the horseback. The position of the Garuḍa standard on the obverse, which is seen to right just above the horse's head, is also unusual. The king is seen sometimes stooping down to reach the lion; sometimes he is shown erect. In some cases, we can see the sword being thrust right into the gaping mouth of the lion (Pl. XV. 14). All the known coins of this type are struck to the suvarṇa standard; only one piece B.M.C., G.D. No. 556 is known to be weighing 136 grains; it may be a worn out coin. The coins of Prakāśāditya have nearly the same alloy as those of Skandagupta and Budhagupta, viz 23%.¹

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¹ This was found to be the alloy in B.M.C. No. 552.

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The identity of Prakāśāditya is difficult to determine at present. His coins are not found in east India. Their find-spots, Rampur, Shahajahanpur, Hardoi, Kanauj and Bharsar (in Banaras district), suggest that he was not a later emperor, whose power was confined to parts of Bengal. In the Bharasar hoard, Skandagupta and Prakāśāditya were the latest Gupta emperors; this would show that he came soon after Skandagupta, if he was not his immediate successor. The striking originality of his coin type, the place of the Garuḍa standard, the peculiar symbol on the reverse and the relative purity of the metal, all point out that Prakāśāditya has to be placed earlier than the time of Narasimhagupta, Kumāragupta II, Budhagupta and Viṣṇugupta, when the imperial Gupta coinage had come to be confined to the stereotyped Archer type and had become heavily adulterated. The central theme of the obverse device of Prakāśāditya reminds us of the Rhinoceros-slayer type of Kumāragupta I and it is very likely that the two rulers may have been close to each other in time. The feet of the goddess on the reverse of the coins of Prakāśāditya have been folded one behind the other in such a way as to present a single, horizontal pillow-like object. This peculiarity is to be seen on some coins of Skandagupta (Pl. XIV. 11) and on most of the coins of Narasimhagupta (Pl. XV. 2). Prakāśāditya therefore could not be far removed from them in time.

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The cumulative effect of the above evidence seems to point to the identification of Prakāśāditya with Purugupta,¹ the brother of Skandagupta, who probably ruled between c. 467 and 468. He was sufficiently close in time to his father Kumāragupta I and could have adopted his Rhinoceros-slayer type with a slight variation. The style of the folded feet of the goddess may have been borrowed by him from the later issues of Skandagupta and the fashion may have been continued by his son Narasimhagupta. No other known Gupta king of the latter half of the fifth century is so far known not to have issued gold coinage, and it is therefore not unlikely that Prakāśāditya of gold coins may be Purugupta of the Bhitari seal.² Purugupta was ruling over an undivided Gupta empire and the coins of Prakāśāditya have been found from Rampur to Banaras. Purugupta had most probably a short reign; the coinage of Prakāśāditya is also not copious.

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¹ Mr. Allan suggests this identification on p. 135 of B.M.C., G.D., but at p. ciii of his Introduction, he leaves the question open, probably because he had attributed the heavy Archer type with Vikrama on the reverse to that ruler (p. 134).

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² It may be argued that the letter *ru* occurring on the obverse of his coins may suggest a late date, because it occurs on the coins of Vishnugupta, who ruled after c. 490 A.D. It is, however, not unlikely that Prakāśāditya (Purugupta) may have introduced that letter and that Vishnugupta may have copied it later. Until however we know the significance of these stray letters on the obverse, we can base no conclusions upon them.

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The proposed identification of Prakāśāditya with Purugupta is only a probable theory; it may be confirmed or disproved by the discovery of fresh evidence.

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The obverse circular legend on the coins of Prakāśāditya has not yet been completely read; it ended with *vijitya vasudhām divam jayati* (Pl. XXVI. 21).

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General description of the type is not now necessary after the above discussion; we proceed to describe the two coins illustrated.¹

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¹ See Appendix II for a third coin of this ruler with the letter *ma* under the horse.

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HORSEMAN-LION-SLAYER TYPE²

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(1) Gold; .8”; 145.8 grains; *I.M.C.*, I, Pl. XVI. 10. *Obv:* King to r. on horseback wearing cap, stooping down to attack with sword in r. hand, a lion, which leaps at him; lion only half on the flan; bow behind the king’s body with string over r. shoulder; Garuḍa standard above the horse’s head on the right, faintly visible on this coin. Circular legend, ...[*vijitya*] *vasudhām divam jayati*; ‘Having conquered the earth, he wins the heaven.’ Under the horse, *ru*. *Rev:* Lakshmī, nimbate, seated, facing on lotus, holding noose in r. hand and lotus in l. resting on l. knee. Symbol on l.; it is a peculiar one and occurs on the coins of no other ruler. Legend, *Śrī-Prakāśādityaḥ*. (Pl. XV. 14)

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(2) Gold; .75”; 146.² grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XXII. 3. *Obv:* As above, but the lion is more fully upon the coin and his tail, turned up, can be seen; king not stooping down. Letter below the horse is indistinct. Legend, as above. Garuḍa standard clear on the r. Rev: As above. Symbol in full; legend, Śra-Prakāśāditya. (Pl. XV. 15)

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² *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XXII. 1-6; *J.A.S.B.*, 1852, Pl. XII. 9; *J.R.A.S.*, Pl. III. 10; *I.M.C.*, I, Pl. XVI. 10.

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A few rulers like Bhīmasena Harigupta, Virasena, Jaya-(nāga), Samāchāradeva, Śaśāṅka, etc., who flourished during the period, c. 525 to 650 A.D., issued gold, silver and copper coins in imitation of some of the Gupta types. There is no evidence to show that they belonged to the Imperial Gupta House; nor do we know their dynastic affiliations. It is possible that subsequent discoveries may show that a few of them belonged to some of the collateral branches of the Imperial Guptas. It will be therefore most convenient to discuss the coinage of these rulers in Appendix I of this work.

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