[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Archaeology, epigraphy and coins](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy) › [The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957) › c8 # The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c8: Chapter III: The Coinage of Chandragupta I The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c8 - **Language:** English ## Contents - [c8.s1 King-and-Queen Type](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1) — 47 parts ### Chapter III: The Coinage of Chandragupta I ### [c8.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.2) Chandragupta I issued coins only in the King-and-the-Queen type and they are not numerous. Their recorded findspots are Mathurā, Ayodhyā, Lucknow, Sitapur, Tanda, Ghazipur and Banaras in U. P. and Bayana in the Bharatpur state. It is rather strange that no finds of his coins should so far have been recorded in Bihar, the home province of the Gupta empire. His coins vary in diameter from .74" to .85" and in weight from 113 to 123.8 grains. The average weight of good specimens is about 120 grains. There are ten coins of this type in the Bayana hoard, nine in the British Museum, four in the State Museum, Lucknow, and six in the Indian Museum, Calcutta.¹ ### [c8.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.3) ¹ The information about the number of coins of the different emperors in the different museums given in this work is mostly based upon published catalogues. It is possible that more coins may have been added in recent years in these museums. ### [c8.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.4) The obverse shows the king and the queen facing each other, the former offering to the latter a present at which she is looking with great interest. The object offered has been differently represented on different coins. Sometimes it is a ring held between the thumb and the forefinger (Pl. I. 8), sometimes it is a \*sindūradānī\*,² with its handle grasped in the king's closed fingers and its circular or square end peeping above them (Pl. I. 11-12). In some cases, the object looks like a bangle or \*kaṭaka\*, (Pl. I. 10), but a \*kaṭaka\* cannot be held in the manner in which it is held on these coins. We have therefore to presume that what looks like a bangle is the circular end of the \*sindūradānī\*. In some cases, the end of the \*sindūradānī\* looks like a bud (Pl. I. 9), but this may be due to a defective representation of the circle at the end. ### [c8.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.5) ² Ladies hold the handle of the \*sindūradānī\* in their fingers, dip its circular end in liquid \*sindūra\* or \*kumkuma\* and then put that mark on their forehead. ### [c8.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.6) On some rare coins there is a cluster of dots between the feet of the king and queen (Pl. I. 12-13).¹ On the prototype (Pl. I. 3-4), this place was occupied by some Brāhmī letter, probably giving the initial of the name of the governor or the mint city. This practice is discarded in the imperial Gupta coinage. It appears that some mint-masters thought of replacing this letter by an ornamental device in the form of a star or cluster of dots. In some cases it is beautifully carved and looks almost like a woven device on the hanging upper garment of the queen (Pl. I. 13). In other cases, however, it is crudely represented (Pl. I. 12). ### [c8.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.7) ¹ See also \*J. M. C.\*, Vol. I, p. 100, No. 4; \*B. M. C., G. D.\*, Pl. III. 2 ### [c8.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.8) The name of the king is written perpendicularly partly under his left arm and partly outside the staff of the standard held in that hand. It is spelt sometimes as \*Chandra\* (Pl. I. 13), but usually as \*Chandra\* (Pl. I. 8-12). The name of the queen Kumāradevī is written behind her standing figure. It is usually prefixed by the honorific term \*śrī\*, but in rare cases it comes at the end of the name (Pl. I. 11). The post-position of \*śrī\* is rather rare; we have, however, got another instance of it on some coins of the Western Kshatrapa ruler Dāmajada, where the legend is \*Damajadaśriyaḥ\*.² The reverse shows a goddess seated on lion. The feet of the goddess are usually hanging down (Pl. I. 8-10), but in rare cases she is seen tucking up one of them (Pl. I. 11). She is never shown astride the lion, nor is the latter ever shown as walking, as we see on the Lion-slayer coins of Chandragupta II. The reverse legend gives the name of the Lichchhavi clan as \*Lichchhavayaḥ\*.³ ### [c8.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.9) ² \*B. M. C., A. K.\*, p. 81 ### [c8.10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.10) ³ Smith states ‘On one of the Carnac coins, the reverse legend seems to be \*Lichchhivayaḥ\* (\*J. R. A. S.\*, 1893, p. 94); but this coin has not been illustrated and Smith is not positive about the reading. ### [c8.11](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.11) The identity of the goddess on the reverse is not easy to determine. It will be shown how this motif is borrowed partly from a coin type of Kanishka III, where she is seated on a lion but where her name is illegible (Pl. I. 7), and partly from the still later coins, where she is seated on a throne and is expressly described as Ardoksho (Pl. I. 3). The deliberate discarding of the throne in favour of the lion may suggest that the idea was to represent her as Durgā, whose mount is lion. It is not unlikely that Durgā may have been the tutelary deity of the Lichchhavis, whose name alone appears upon the reverse. Mr. Allan describes the feet of the goddess as resting on a lotus. The object, however, is altogether different in appearance from a lotus, used as a foot-stool on Gupta coins (Pl. III. 1-2). It appears to be a circular carpet with some dotted design upon it. ### [c8.12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.12) On some coins there is a triangle without base, sometimes with a dot at the apex on the right of the goddess (Pl. I. 8). It is probably intended to be a counterpart of the symbol on the left. ### [c8.13](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.13) All earlier numismatists had attributed Chandragupta-Kumāradevī coins to Chandragupta I. Mr. Allan, however, maintained that these coins were commemorative medals struck by Samudragupta in commemoration of his father and his own Lichchhavi descent.¹ The present writer has examined in detail Mr. Allan's various arguments in order to show how his theory rests on slender evidence.² A commemorator, while commemorating his parents or predecessors, rarely fails to indicate his own identity by giving his own name on the reverse. Agathocles (Pl. I. 1), Antimachos Theos³ and Eucratides (Pl. I. 2) have all given their own names on the reverse of their commemorative medals; Samudragupta would have obviously done the same, and added a small legend on the reverse like \*Mātāpitṛbhaktaḥ Samudraguptaḥ\*. On the Aśvamedha coins, where he does not put his personal name, he is careful enough to indicate the identity of the issuer by the significant legend \*Aśvamedhaparākramaḥ\*. Why should he completely obliterate himself on this type alone? ### [c8.14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.14) ¹ B. M. C., G. D., Intr. p. lxiv-lxviii ### [c8.15](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.15) ² Num. Suppl., 1937, pp. 105-11. ### [c8.16](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.16) ³ B. M. C., Greek and Scythic Kings, Pl.XXX. 6 ### [c8.17](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.17) Pāṭaliputra, Gayā and Allahabad, which were certainly included in the kingdom of Chandragupta I, were important centres of trade and pilgrimage and must have had scores of gold coins of the later Kuṣāṇa rulers circulating in their bazars; one coin of this type was actually found in the Kumrāhār excavations near Pāṭaliputra in 1913 A. D. Unfortunately it was stolen from the Patna Museum. Its register number is 2092.¹ These coins could have supplied the prototype for the Gupta coinage in the reign of Chandragupta I. We need not, therefore, suppose that the Gupta coinage could not have started till late in the reign of Samudragupta, when the boundaries of the empire for the first time touched those of the later Kuṣāṇa kingdoms of the Punjab. ### [c8.18](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.18) ¹ J. N. S. I., XIII, 144 ### [c8.19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.19) Mr. Allan observes that if we assume that the Chandra-Gupta-Kumāradevī coins were issued by Chandragupta I, it would be difficult to explain the relatively slavish imitation of the Śāka or the Later Kuṣāṇa type² disclosed by the Standard type of Samudragupta. ### [c8.20](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.20) ² On the later Kuṣāṇa coins current in the Eastern Punjab, there is the name of the king written under the left arm which varies; but outside the spear or standard, there is the word Śāka written on almost all of them. This type may therefore be called either as Śāka or as Later Kuṣāṇa type. ### [c8.21](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.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). ### [c8.22](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.22) Mr. Allan’s argument, however, is not convincing. There is no doubt that the Standard type of Samudragupta is a closer imitation of the prototype than the King-and-the-Queen type of Chandragupta I. But the relative closeness to the prototype does not necessarily prove that the type in question is chronologically earlier than another, which shows lesser imitation of the original. For instance, some of the coins of the Archer type of Chandragupta II (Pl. IV. 8) show greater imitation of the Kushāṇa prototype on the reverse than the Chandragupta-Kumāradevī type, as designated by Mr. Allan; for the goddess is seated there on a high-backed throne. Are we to suppose that some varieties of the Archer type of Chandragupta II are earlier than the so-called commemorative medal type of his father Samudragupta? Skandagupta’s Archer type shows the king wearing Kushāṇa coat and trousers (Pl. XIV. 8-11). Is it then to be regarded as chronologically earlier than those coins of the Archer type of Chandragupta II where the king is wearing a dhotī? ### [c8.23](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.23) The so-called originality of the Chandragupta-Kumāradevī type is mostly due to political circumstances. It is admitted on all hands that the Guptas largely owed their rise to the imperial status to the matrimonial alliance of Chandragupta with the Lichchhavis, whose princess Kumāradevī was his crowned queen. When king William III consented to come over to England to govern it, he insisted on being the regnant king; so all the coins issued during the life of William III and Mary II have the names and the conjugate busts of both the king and the queen. It is quite likely that the proud Lichchhavis may have similarly insisted that not only the name and portrait of their princess, but also the name of their clan, should appear on the coinage of Chandragupta I. This explains the originality of the obverse in so far as it shows both the king and the queen. ### [c8.24](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.24) The originality of the reverse is also only apparent. Goddess seated on lion was not unknown to Kushāṇa coinage. On one coin of Huvishka we see Nana riding a lion (Pl. I. 6). This type, however, is rather too early to be regarded as the prototype. There is a coin type of the late Kushāṇa king Kaneshko, probably Kanishka III, issued in the 3rd century, which shows the goddess on the reverse seated on a lion crouching to left (Pl. I. 7). The style in which the goddess is seated on the lion and the way in which she is wearing the upper garment over her shoulders are both closely similar to what we see on the coins of Chandragupta I (Pl. I. 8, 10). The goddess on this type of Kaneshko is, however, holding a sceptre in her left hand and not a cornucopiæ. It appears that the reverse of the coin type of Chandragupta I is modelled partly on the Shāka coin type (Pl. I. 3, 5) and partly on the type of Kaneshko (Pl. I. 7). Cornucopiæ in the hand of the goddess is adopted from the former and her mount lion and the manner of wearing the upper garment from the latter. ### [c8.25](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.25) The selection of the Lion device from the type of Kaneshko may probably be due to \*Simhavāhinī\* Durgā being the tutelary deity of the Lichchhavis, whose exclusive name appears on the reverse. It must, however, be added that there is so far no definite evidence to show that Durgā was the tutelary deity of the Lichchhavis. Lion device was popular at Vaiśālī, the capital of the Lichchhavis. Aśokan column at this place is crowned with Lion and the seal of Queen Dhruvasvāminī, found at Vaiśālī, has also the Lion emblem.) ### [c8.26](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.26) We need not be puzzled by the circumstance of Chandragupta confining himself only to a single type in his reign. His coinage probably began late in his reign, when he formally assumed the title Mahārājadhirāja and started the Gupta era. Like Shivaji he probably did not live long after his formal coronation, and seems to have died within four or five years of that event. Coinage was quite a new administrative activity introduced in the Gupta empire and mint-masters had yet to acquire the necessary experience to embark upon new types. The political alliance with the Lichchhavis would also have rendered the discontinuance of this type very inadvisable, for it recognised the contribution of the Lichchhavis also to the foundation and growth of the new empire. ### [c8.27](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.27) The available evidence thus shows that the coins bearing the joint names and portraits of Chandragupta I and Kumāradevī were really issued when these two were ruling the Gupta empire. There is hardly any evidence to show that they were issued as commemorative medals by Samudragupta. Had he really done so, he would have taken care to put his own name or biruda somewhere on the obverse or reverse to disclose his identity. ### [c8.28](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.28) We now proceed to describe the coin-type of Chandragupta. ### King-and-Queen Type ### [c8.s1.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.1) \*Obv:\* Chandragupta, usually nimbate, standing to left, wearing trousers, head-dress,—in some cases with pearl-border,—and a close-fitting tailed coat. He wears ear-rings, armlets and necklace and holds in left hand a crescent-topped standard adorned with fillets. With his right hand he is offering a present to Kumāradevī, usually but not always nimbate, who stands facing him to right, wearing a \*sāri\*, an upper garment, a close-fitting head-dress, in some cases pearl-bordered, a necklace, earrings, and armlets. Her right hand is on waist and the left is hanging down. There is a crescent between the king and the queen on some coins. ### [c8.s1.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.2) Legend: Under king's l. arm, written vertically \*Chandra\* (or \*Chamdra\*), outside the standard, also written vertically, \*gupta\*; (Pl. XXIV. 71). On the left, between VII and XI,¹ \*Śrī-Kumāradevī\* (Pl. XX, 2) or \*Kumāradevīśrī\*. ### [c8.s1.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.3) ¹ These numbers refer to their position on the face of a clock and are given to indicate the precise position of the legend. ### [c8.s1.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.4) \*Rev:\* Within dotted border Goddess, nimbate, wearing a bodice, a \*sārī\*, an upper garment, a necklace and a circular pearl ornament round the forehead, seated facing on lion to right or left,² holding a noose in right hand and a cornucopiæ in the left; a circular dotted carpet under her feet; traces of back of the throne on most specimens. ### [c8.s1.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.5) ² Her legs are usually hanging down; in some cases she partially tucks up her left leg on the lion's head (Pl. I. 11). She is never astride the lion, nor is ever the lion shown walking, as on the coins of his grandson. ### [c8.s1.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.6) Symbol to left in all cases and also to right in some. Legend; on right in a straight line, \*Lichchhavayaḥ\*; (Pl. XXIII. 43). ### [c8.s1.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.7) COINS ILLUSTRATED : 6 ### [c8.s1.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.8) (1) Gold; .85"; 117.6 grains; \*B.H.\*, Pl. I. 1. ### [c8.s1.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.9) \*Obv:\* King and queen, not nimbate, which is rather rare. King wears a pearl-bordered cap and trousers with prominent buttons. The object offered is held between the thumb and forefinger and looks like a ring. The crescent-top of the banner in the king's left hand is clearly visible. Legends, \*Chandragupta\*, last two letters being partly off the flan; \*Śra-Kumāra-deva\* behind the queen. ### [c8.s1.10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.10) \*Rev:\* Back of the throne not visible. Lion to r.; symbol on r. also. (Pl. I. 8.) ### [c8.s1.11](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.11) (2) Gold; .8"; 121.3 grains; \*B.H.\*, Pl. I. 3. ### [c8.s1.12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.12) \*Obv:\* King and queen both nimbate. The handle of the object presented is grasped in the fist and its conical end peeps out above. Crescent top not visible. Legends; \*Chandragupta\*; \*Śrī-Kumāradeva\*. ### [c8.s1.13](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.13) \*Rev:\* Back of the throne visible on r. Lion couchant to l.; no symbol on r. Legend, \*Lachchhavayaḥ\*. (Pl. I. 9.) ### [c8.s1.14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.14) (3) Gold; .85"; 118.4 grains; \*B.H.\*, Pl. I. 6. ### [c8.s1.15](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.15) \*Obv:\* Crescent between the king and the queen. Crescent-top of the banner off the flan. Circular end of the \*sindūradānī\*, looking like a bangle, is peeping above the king's thumb; the object may also be a bangle queerly held. Legend as above, but blurred and truncated. ### [c8.s1.16](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.16) \*Rev:\* Lion to r. Back of the throne is clearly visible on r. and the symbol on l., as it were counterbalancing it. No symbol on r. Legend, \*Lachchhavayaḥ\*. (Pl. I. 10.) ### [c8.s1.17](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.17) (4) Gold; .8"; 123. 8 grains; \*B.M.C.\*, \*G.D.\*; Pl. III. 10. ### [c8.s1.18](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.18) \*Obv:\* Crescent between the heads of the king and the queen. Standard in king's hand almost invisible. Both the handle and the circular end of the \*sindūradānī\* are clearly visible. Legend as above, but \*Kumāradevī's\* name is spelt as \*\[Ku\]maradevaśra\*, the honorific suffix coming at the end. ### [c8.s1.19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.19) \*Rev:\* Back of the throne visible; lion couchant to r. Legend, \*Lachchhavayaḥ\*. (Pl. I. 11.) ### [c8.s1.20](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.20) (5) Gold; .85"; 118 grains; Bodleian Collection, \*N. Ch.\* 1891, Pl. II. 1. ### [c8.s1.21](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.21) \*Obv\*: A coin of crude fabric. The object offered is held by the handle and its end, which looks more like a square than a circle, is distinctly visible. Legend as above, but the queen's name is off the flan. Three dots between the feet of the king and the queen. ### [c8.s1.22](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.22) \*Rev\*: Lion to l. No back for the throne. Legend truncated. Symbol on l. only. ### [c8.s1.23](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.23) (Pl. I. 12) ### [c8.s1.24](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.24) (6) Gold; .8"; 113 grains; \*B.M.C., G.D.\*, Pl. III. 1. ### [c8.s1.25](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.25) \*Obv\*: Crescent top of the standard is not visible. The handle of the object presented is held in the fist and its head is peeping out. A beautiful cluster of dots between the feet of the king and the queen. Legends, \*Chamdragupta\*; \*Śra-Kumaradeva\*. Note that the name is spelt as \*Chamdra\* and not as \*Chandra\* which is the usual manner. ### [c8.s1.26](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.26) \*Rev\*: Lion to l. Legend, \*Lachchhavayaḥ\* truncated. ### [c8.s1.27](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.27) (Pl. I. 13) ### [c8.s1.28](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.28) Key to the coins referred to in this chapter and illustrated in Plate 1. ### [c8.s1.29](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.29) COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL OF AGATHOKLES ### [c8.s1.30](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.30) Silver; 1.3"; 263. 5 grains; \*B.M.C., G.S.\*, Pl. IV. 3. ### [c8.s1.31](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.31) \*Obv\*: Head of Euthydemos to r., diademed, border of dots. Legend, ΕΥΘΥΔΗΜΟΥ ΘΕΟΥ. ### [c8.s1.32](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.32) \*Rev\*: Heracles seated on rock with club resting on his knee. Legend, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΟΝΤΟΣ ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ ΑΓΑΘΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ. Monogram below the rock. ### [c8.s1.33](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.33) COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL OF EUCRATIDES ### [c8.s1.34](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.34) Silver; 1.2"; weight not known; \*P.M.C.\*, Pl. I. IX, iv. \*Obv:\* Conjugate busts of Heliokles and Laodike; legend above, ΗΛΙΟΚΛΕΟΥ; below ΚΑΙ ΛΑΟΔΙΚΗ. Monogram behind the head. \*Rev:\* Helmeted bust of Eucratides to r.; legend above, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ ΕΥΚΡΑΤΙΔΟΥ. (Pl. I. 2.) ### [c8.s1.35](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.35) LATE KUSHANA OR SHAKA TYPE OF THE EASTERN PUNJAB. ### [c8.s1.36](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.36) (3) Gold; .8"; weight not stated; \*C.L.I.S.\*, Pl. II. 1. \*Obv:\* King standing to l., wearing peaked cap, tailed and buttoned coat and trousers and holding a standard or spear in the l. hand and offering oblations by the r. on an altar in his front; trident in front of the king. Circular Greek legend in corrupt and illegible Greek script. Brāhmī legend; under l. arm, \*mi\*; \*Shāka\*, outside the spear written perpendicularly. \*Rev:\* Ardoksho seated on a high-backed throne, holding cornucopiæ in l. hand and noose in r.; symbol on l.; legend on r. in corrupt Greek script, ΑΡΔΟ... (Pl. I. 3.) ### [c8.s1.37](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.37) LATE KUSHANA OR SHAKA TYPE OF THE WESTERN PUNJAB. ### [c8.s1.38](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.38) (4) Gold; .9"; weight not recorded; \*C.L.I.S.\*, Pl. I. 13 (obv.), 14 (rev.). \*Obv:\* King as in Pl. I. 3; circular legend in corrupt Greek script illegible; Brāhmī legend outside the spear, \*Roda\*; between the feet, \*yo\* or \*gho\*; on l. \*śa\*. \*Rev:\* Śiva standing facing by the side of his mount bull holding trident in l. hand and noose in r.; symbol on l.; legend on r. \*Oesho\*¹ (to be read from outside) (Pl. I. 4.) ### [c8.s1.39](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.39) ¹ See p. 37, no. 1. ### [c8.s1.40](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.40) LATE KUSHANA TYPE OF THE EASTERN PUNJAB. (Issued by king Bhadra) ### [c8.s1.41](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.41) (5) Gold; .8"; weight not recorded; \*C.L.I.S.\*, Pl. II. 12. \*Obv:\* As on Pl. I. 3; but Greek legend off the flan. Under 1. arm \*Bhadra\*, which can be easily mistaken for \*Chandra\*; outside the standard \*Shilada\*. Note that \*lada\*, looks like \*pta\*. \*Rev:\* As on Pl. I. 3 but legend illegible. (Pl. I. 5.) ### [c8.s1.42](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.42) A COIN OF HUVISHKA. ### [c8.s1.43](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.43) (6) Gold; .8"; weight not stated; \*P.M.C.\*, Vol. I., Pl. XX, x, from B. M. \*Obv:\* Bust of the king to r., holding club in r. hand; usual circular Greek legend, partly off the flan, SHAO NANO SHAO OESHKI KOSHANO.¹ \*Rev:\* Goddess Nana, seated on lion to r., with her legs hanging down; she holds a club in r. hand; symbol on 1., legend NANO in corrupt Greek. (Pl. I. 6.) ### [c8.s1.44](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.44) ¹ Letters E and SH are written on the coin in their usual form current at this time. They are not reproduced in the text in these forms owing to typographical difficulties. ### [c8.s1.45](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.45) A COIN OF KANESHKO ### [c8.s1.46](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.46) (7) Gold; 1.2"; weight not known; \*J.A.S.B.\*, 1933, p. 7. \*Obv:\* King standing as in Pl. I. 4-6, but holding a trident in his 1. hand; another trident in front. Circular Greek legend blurred and corrupt; traces of \*Kaneshko shao\* can be seen on the 1. \*Rev:\* Goddess seated facing on lion walking to 1., holding noose in r. hand and a sceptre in 1.; lunar crescent behind her shoulders. Symbol in the upper l. quadrant. Legend on r. in illegible Greek script. (Pl. I. 7.) ### [c8.s1.47](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8.s1.47) Note that the manner in which the goddess is seated on the lion and the fashion in which she is wearing the upper garment are closely similar to what we see on the coins of Chandragupta I; see Pl. I, 8, 11, 13. ## Linked texts (3) - [Vaiśālī](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.vaisali) - [Pāṭaliputra](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.pataliputra) - [Kumrahar](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.kumrahar) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.altekar-1957.c8) · Pramāṇa