The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c9.s6.6

c9.s6.6

The letter *si*, occuring on the pedestal of variety A, is most probably an abbreviation of *siddham*; and since this letter occurs on the Aśvamedha coins of the present ruler, it may be suggested that it refers to some auspicious occasion or event with which the issue of this type was connected. It is likely that both the types were issued on the occasion of the Aśvamedha sacrifice. During the course of this ritual a *rājanya* (Kshatriya) lute-player has to sing three *gāthās* (songs) composed by himself to the notes of the lute describing the sacrificer's valour.² It is of course improbable that Samudragupta would have played this part himself, but it is likely that this incident in the Aśvamedha sacrifice along with the emperor's known predilection for music must have been responsible for the introduction of this type in the coinage.