The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c6.36

c6.36

History of the Gupta empire after the death of Budhagupta in *c.* 496 A. D. is but imperfectly known. It is very probable that Viṣṇugupta, the son of Kumāragupta II, succeeded him in *c.* 490 A. D. in his small dominion in the east and Bhānugupta succeeded Budhagupta at Pāṭaliputra in *c.* 496 A. D. No coinage of Bhānugupta has, however, come down to us, but several gold coins of Viṣṇugupta have been discovered. The latest Gupta emperor known from his coinage is Vainyagupta; his name was long misread as Chandragupta on his gold coins. Since a copper plate of Vainyagupta was found in southern Bengal, we may presume that he was a son and successor of Viṣṇugupta.