The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c18.s7: (7) Śaśāṅka
The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c18.s7
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(7) Śaśāṅka
c18.s7.1
Śaśāṅka, who ruled in Gauḍa in the first quarter of the 7th century, was a rival and opponent of the Maukharis of Kanauj and Harshavardhana of Thaneshvar. Apparently he issued coins only in gold; at any rate his coins in silver and copper have not so far been found. His gold coins also are of a varying degree of purity; in some, the gold contents are about 58% (*e.g.* B.M. No. 608); in others they are very much less. Some of his coins are in copper plated with gold (*e.g.* B.M. Nos. 610 and 611). Majority of his coins are issued to the *suvarṇa* standard of 80 *rattis* or about 144 grains; a few however weigh only 85 grains and are probably of the half *śatamāna* denomination. Smaller coins, however, have a much lesser dross, though they are rougher in execution. They have a border of big dots both on the obverse and the reverse; this is absent on the bigger coins. The goddess on the reverse has lotus in each hand, but no elephants to give her ablution.
c18.s7.2
It is well known that Śaśāṅka was an opponent of Buddhism. His coinage would show that he was a Śaiva, because Śiva invariably appears on the obverse of his coins on his mount Nandī. This side further shows the full round orb of the moon to the left of the king's face. The legend on the obverse was intended to be *Śrī-Śaśāṅko jayati*; but only the letters *Śrī-śaśa* have come on the flan. The first three letters are written vertically behind the haunch of the bull in the usual Gupta tradition; *ja* and *ya* are written below the bull.
c18.s7.3
The reverse shows Lakshmī seated on lotus, as on the Gupta coinage. There is an elephant on either side giving her ablution. The legend on the reverse is *Śrī-Śaśāṅkaḥ*.
c18.s7.4
COINS ILLUSTRATAD : 4
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CLASS I
c18.s7.6
SUVARṆA TYPE
c18.s7.7
(1) Gold; .8"; 145 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XXIII. 14. Obv: Śiva, nimbate, reclining to left on bull to l. with l. hand uplifted holding an uncertain object; full moon (*śaśāṅka*) above on l. On r. *Śraśa*; below the bull, *jaya* (from l. to r.). Rev: Lakshmī, nimbate, seated facing on lotus, holding lotus in l. hand which rests on knee; r. hand outstretched and empty; at the top on either side an elephant giving her ablution. On her r. *Śraśa*. No symbol. (Pl. XIXA. 8)
c18.s7.8
(2) Gold; .75"; 145.3 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XXIII. 15. Obv: As above, but the legend below is *yaja* instead of *jaya*. (Pl. XIXA. 9)
c18.s7.9
(3) Gold-plated; .8"; 133.7 grains; *B.M.C.,G.D.*, p. 147, No. 610. *Obv*: As above; legend, *Śrīśa*. *Rev*: As above; *Śrīśaśāṅka*. (Not illustrated)
c18.s7.10
HALF-ŚATAMĀNA TYPE
c18.s7.11
(4) Gold; .75", 85 grains; *B.M.C., G.D.*, Pl. XXIV. 2. *Obv*: As above, but no trace of the legend *Śrīśa*. Below the bull, *Yaja* and not *Jaya*. *Rev*: Lakshmī holds lotus in r. hand and l. hand rests on thigh; no ablution by elephants. Legend, *Śrīśaśāṅka*. (Pl. XIXA. 10)