The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c18.s6.1

c18.s6.1

Only two coins of king Samāchāradeva are known so far; but they have been a centre of several controversies. The difference of view starts with the reading of the name as well as of the *biruda*. While on his Archer type, the name could be clearly read as Samacha, that on the *Rājalilā*¹ type seemed to be Yamadha. The latter reading was proposed by J. Allan and accepted by R. D. Banerji.² In the palæography of this period, *ya* and *sa*, and *dha* and *cha* are similar and can be confused with each other by careless engravers; and since the *biruda* on both the coins is the same, it will be reasonable to assume that the correct reading on the obverse of the *Rājalilā* type is also Samacha, standing for Samāchāra. The latter *rā* is not quite distinct; but its traces can be seen above the Bull standard in the Archar type (Pl. XIXA. 6) and below the feet of the female on the left in the *Rājalilā* type (Pl. XIXA. 7).