[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Archaeology, epigraphy and coins](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy) › [The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957) › c19.149 # The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c19.149 The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c19.149 - **Language:** English ### [c19.149](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c19.149) Copper coins of Kumāragupta are few and confined to the Altar type. Recently a copper coin of this ruler has been traced in the collection of Mr. J. Das of Allahabad, which is of the Horseman type. Copper coins of Chandragupta II and Kumāra-gupta I have different designs, shapes and weights than those of the gold coins of these rulers. This copper coin however is of the size of the gold coin of the Horseman type; its photograph in the Plate is in enlarged size. It seems to have had the circular legend of the variety C of the Horseman type of Kumāragupta, namely, \*Kshitipatirajito vijayī Kumāragupto jayatyajitaḥ\*; only a few letters have been preserved. The reverse is also the same, namely, goddess seated on the wicker stool and feeding a peacock. As Gupta rulers had distinctive types for their copper coinage, it is not unlikely that the present coin was issued from a die of the gold coin of the Horseman type. It is not unlikely that it might have been originally gold-plated. If such was the case, it might have been during the hard times that overtook the Gupta empire towards the end of Kumāra-gupta’s reign, gold-plated coins might have been issued, which now appear as copper pieces. More evidence is however, necessary before we can accept this conclusion as a historical fact. - [Previous: c19.148](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c19.148) - [Next: c19.150](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c19.150) - [Up: c19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c19) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c19.149](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c19.149) · Pramāṇa