The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c6.32

c6.32

The history of the period is shrouded in obscurity and has given rise to various theories, none of which can be regarded as proved definitely. One view is that the three successive short reigns of Purugupta, Narasiṃhagupta and Kumāra-gupta II were due to disputed succession. Budhagupta is assumed to have opposed his brother Narasiṃhagupta and the latter’s son Kumāragupta II. The internecine struggle probably cut short the reigns of both Narasiṃhagupta and Kumāra-gupta II and ended with the accession of Budhagupta after the overthrow of his nephew Kumāragupta II in c. 473 A. D. It is not unlikely that Ghaṭotkachagupta, perhaps a brother of Skandagupta, who was probably a governor of Mālwā in 435 A. D., declared independence during this struggle and issued gold coinage. The solitary coin in the St. Petersburg (Leningrad) Museum, with the legend Ghaṭo under the arm, was probably issued by him.