The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c8.21

c8.21

This argument, however, is not convincin. Two types prevailed in the coinage of the later Kuṣāṇa or Śāka rulers of the Punjab; the Śiva type, showing the deity standing by his mount Bull on the reverse (Pl. I. 4), was common in the Western Punjab and the Ardoksho type, with the deity seated on a high-backed throne on the reverse (Pl. I. 3, 5), was prevailing in the Eastern Punjab. There is no doubt that, as maintained by Mr. Allan, the Standard type of Samudragupta is a close imitation of the latter type. As on the prototype, we see Samudragupta standing to left wearing Kushāṇa coat and trousers and offering oblations on an altar. Only Kushāṇa peaked cap is replaced by the Indian head-dress and the trident in front of the king by the Garuḍa standard, the emblem of the new dynasty. The reverse shows even a closer imitation, the only difference being the substitution of the Sanskrit legend Parākrama, giving the biruda of the new king (Pl. I. 14-15; II. 1-7).