The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c6.5

c6.5

The Gupta dynasty was founded in south-east Bihar³ by Śrigupta in *c.* 260 A. D. His kingdom was a very small one, and he is never given any thing higher than a feudal title in the official records of his more distinguished successors. Śrigupta ruled from c. 260 to 280 A.D. and was too insignificant a ruler to issue any coinage. His son and successor, Ghaṭotkacha, did not succeed in attaining to the imperial status and did not issue any coinage. It will be shown in Chap. XI that the solitary gold coin, bearing the legend Ghaṭo, was issued by a later prince of the dynasty. The reign of Ghaṭotkacha may be placed from c. 280 to 300 A. D.