The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c18.s8.5

c18.s8.5

The palæography of his coins suggests that Jayanāga should be placed between *c.* 550 and 650 A.D. The *Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa* states that the son of Śaśāṅka had a short reign of eight months and five days and was succeeded by a king named Nāga. It is quite probable that this Nāga is identical with Jayanāga; if so, his time may be *c.* 640 to 650 A.D. The reverse of Jayanāga’s coins would support this view. The goddess on his coins folds her feet in the same manner that is to be seen on some coins of Śaśāṅka; (*cf.* Pl. XIXA. 11 with Pl. XIXA. 10); there also occurs the motif of her bath by an elephant, as we see it on most of the coins of Śaśāṅka. Numismatic evidence would thus support the view of Jayanāga being a successor of Śaśāṅka.