The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c19.167

c19.167

Narasimhagupta Bālāditya was closely connected with the Monastic University of Nālandā. During the excavations of 1935-36, carried on at this University on the site of Monastery 12, two clay moulds were discovered, whose external diameter was 1⅛" and internal diameter ¾". On one mould there is the figure of the king standing with bow and arrow, with the name *Nara* written under the arm, and on the other there is the figure of Lakshmī seated on lotus, holding lotus in one hand and noose in the other. A gold coin discovered at Nālandā is stated to be exactly fitting this mould. It would therefore appear that king Bālāditya, who was one of the great patrons of Nālandā, had apparently taken some moulds of his gold coins in order to give donations in golden *dīnāras* for the different needs of the University. Tradition states that he retired to Nālandā in his old age and lived there as a monk.