The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c18.s5: (5) Vīrsena
The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c18.s5
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(5) Vīrsena
c18.s5.1
² This Virasena is to be distinguished from the homonymous ruler, who issued square copper coins in the Mathurā area. The latter flourished in the 3rd century A.D., and issued coins with the railing on one side with king’s name above, and a rude figure of Lakshmi on the other; see Allan, *B.M.C., A.I.*, pp. 280-1.
c18.s5.2
Virasena is known to us from his gold coinage only. One of his coins is in the Indian Museum, Calcutta,³ and one in the British Museum, London. Smith refers to a third coin, but its whereabouts are not known.
c18.s5.3
³ *I.M.C.*, I, Pl. XVI. 14.
c18.s5.4
The palæography of the legend belongs to the later Gupta period and the fact that two of these coins were found near Banaras and that they show the Bull on the reverse would perhaps indicate that Virasena was ruling over Banaras area.
c18.s5.5
The weight of the coins of Virasena varies between 161 and 169 grains. They are obviously issued to the weight standard of a gold Śatamāna, weighing a hundred *rattis*. The metrology, therefore, does not show any Gupta influence; the Guptas never issued any gold coins weighing more than 152 grains. The reverse of Virasena’s coins shows Laksmi seated on a lotus (rather crudely delineated), which is so common on Gupta coins. The *biruda* of Kramāditya was taken by Skandagupta, Kumāragupta II and Ghaṭo(tkachagupta) of the Gupta dynasty. We may, therefore, place Vīrasena sometime in the 6th century.
c18.s5.6
We shall now describe one of the coins of Vīrasena.
c18.s5.7
Gold; shape, oval .65"X .5"; 162.5 grains; *B.M.C.*, *G.D.*, Pl. XXIV. 11.
c18.s5.8
*Obv:* Below, Bull standing to r. Above, the legend *Śrī-Vīrase[na]*.
c18.s5.9
*Rev:* Goddess Lakshmī, nimbate, seated on lotus, holding lotus in l. hand and fillet in r. Legend, *Kramādi[tya]*. (Pl. XIXA. 15)