The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c7.s1.10

c7.s1.10

Samudragupta conceived the idea of proclaiming his hobbies and achievements to his subjects through the instrumentality of his coins and the result was the Tiger-slayer, the Lyrist and the Aśvamedha types of coins. The Tiger-slayer type shows that the emperor was fond of hunting. The coins of this type are rather rare, but they are very beautiful (Pl. III. 13-14). The attitude of the king is very energetic and he is shown wearing the Indian dhoti and jewelry. The Lyrist type shows the emperor passing his rather rare leisure hours in playing on a lute, seated on a couch most probably on the terrace of his Pāṭaliputra palace and in a summer evening, as suggested by his scanty dress (Pl. III. 15-17). The Allahabad pillar inscription claims that Samudragupta excelled Nārada and Tumburu in his musical skill; we should not, therefore, be surprised to find the king ordering the issue of coins proclaiming this hobby of his. The Aśvamedha type (Pl. III. 6-12) proclaims the most spectacular achievement of the emperor. This sacrifice may not have been in real abeyance for a long time, as claimed by the Gupta court panegyrists. But there is no doubt that Samudragupta celebrated it with an unprecedented pomp, and commemorated the occasion by issuing his Aśvamedha coins, which were probably issued primarily for giving presents (dakṣiṇā) to the officiating priests and invited Brāhmaṇas.