The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c18.s3.2

c18.s3.2

The legend on this coin has not been well preserved. Its portion on the right side is illegible. From VI the letters *śri-hara(i)* are clear. What follows is a distinct *ka* followed by another letter, which has been read as *nta* by Smith, but which can also be a *pta*. The following four letters are *vajayata*, being part of the concluding portion *divam jayati*. The letter preceding *va*, however, is not *di* or *da* but looks like *pta* or *nta*. The legend is carelessly engraved. If we take the letter before *va* as *nta*, then we expect it to be preceded by *gu* and not by ka, as is actually the case. So it is only by assuming that there is a mistake in engraving that we can assign this coin to Harigupta written as Harikapta. If this assumption were correct, we can suggest that this Harigupta is the same as Harigupta of the copper coins discussed above.