The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c16.s6: (6) Vishnugupta
The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c16.s6
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(6) Vishnugupta
c16.s6.1
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.
c16.s6.2
¹ *J.N.S.I.*, III, pp. 103-4.
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² *A.S.I., A.R.*, 1926-7, p. 230.
c16.s6.4
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.
c16.s6.5
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*.
c16.s6.6
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.
c16.s6.9
(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.
c16.s6.10
*Rev*: Goddess seated on lotus, facing, holding noose in r. hand and a lotus in the l. Symbol on l. Legend, *Śrī-Chandrāditya*.
c16.s6.11
(Pl. XV. 12)