The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c16.s3.15

c16.s3.15

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.