The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c16.s2.9

c16.s2.9

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