[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) › c19.94 # The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c19.94 The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c19.94 - **Language:** English ### [c19.94](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c19.94) The legend on this coin, it seems, begins at II. The first five letters are \*Prarathamathā\*. Then the legend is broken by the figure of the king and restarts at VIII. The first six letters on the left are \*kshitimabhipāta\*; we have to supply suitable medial vowels. These letters are followed by faint traces of \*da\* and \*va\*. I am inclined to assume that some letters of the legend are off the flan below the feet of the king and we have therefore to supply them. I take them to be \*dhiruhya\*. The whole legend was most probably \*Prarathamathā\[dhiruhya\]kshitimabhipāta (divaṃ jayati)\*, ‘Ascending the excellent chariot (\*praratha\*), the pre-eminent protector (\*abhipāta\*) of the earth conquers heaven also.’ The reading \*(m)abhipāta\* is certain; we have to supply the medial vowel only to the last letter. In terms like \*abhidharma\*, \*abhitāmra\*, \*abhi\* denotes intensity or superiority; the same is the case with the term \*abhipāta\*. The context shows that the three missing letters after \*Prarathamathā\* can hardly have been any others than \*dhiruhya\*. - [Previous: c19.93](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c19.93) - [Next: c19.95](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c19.95) - [Up: c19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c19) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c19.94](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c19.94) · Pramāṇa