The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c9.s4.24

c9.s4.24

The queen on the reverse is shown as holding a *chourī* in her right hand, which rests on her right shoulder and a piece of cloth or towel in the left, which hangs down by her side. The queen was required to fan and wash the horse,¹ and so she naturally has a *chourī* and a towel with her. On the coin published in *B. M. C., G. D.*, Pl. V. 14. Mr. Allan thinks that there is probably a gourd near the feet of the queen. The object is very indistinct on the plate. If it was really a gourd, it would obviously refer to the queen’s duty to wash the horse. On no coin, however, is she shown as carrying a pitcher in her hand as required in the Vedic texts, probably because this part of the job was actually done by menial servants. The queen was regarded as having done her appointed duty when she washed the horse, as others poured the water, and then cleansed it with a towel.