The Age of the Imperial Guptas c10.21

Language: English

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The remaining types of the gold coinage of Samudragupta may be called freak types and medals, except the Battle-Axe type which is a regular development of the Kushan standing king type. In this type as in the Archer type the king holds a battle-axe (*Paraśu*) in the place of the standard or the bow. The legend shows in certain varieties the syllable *Kṛi* under the king’s left arm. Allan divides this type into three varieties. The first shows the name *Samudra* in a vertical line under the left arm. Surrounding the entire flan on the obverse is the larger legend *Kṛitānta-paraśur-jayaty-ajita-rājā jet=ajitah*. The second variety shows the name of the king in two parallel vertical lines as *Samudragupta*. In the third variety we find the syllable *Kṛi*.¹ In all three variety the reverse shows the figure of a goddess seated on a throne with the legend *Kṛitānta-paraśuḥ*.² The rarest of Samudragupta’s freak types is the Tiger type in which we see on the obverse “King standing *l.*, wearing turban, waistcloth, necklace, ear-rings, and armlets, trampling on a tiger which falls backwards as he shoots it with bow in *r.* hand, *l.* hand drawing bow back behind ear; on *l.*; behind tiger crescent-topped standard as on Battle-axe type.” The difference between this type and the regular types of the gold coinage of Samudragupta is that the king’s name does not appear on the obverse at all, nor is there any circular legend. Under the left arm appears the legend *Vyāghra-parākramaḥ*.

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On the reverse the figure of the sitting goddess gives place to a standing figure of Gaṅgā standing on her *Vāhana*, a Makara and the legend on the right is *Rājā Samudraguptaḥ*.¹ The second freak type is the Lyrist. “King seated, nimbate, cross-legged to *l.*, wearing waistcloth, close-fitting cap, necklace, ear-rings, and armlets, on high-backed couch, playing lyre or lute (*vīṇā*) which lies on his knees; beneath couch is a pedestal or footstool inscribed (*si*).” In this case also there is no king’s name under the left arm but it is given as a circular legend *Mahārājādhirāja-Śrī-Samudraguptaḥ*². On the reverse we come across, once more, the figure of the seated goddess facing the left, on a wicker stool and the name of the king is given once more in a vertical line to the right, *Samudraguptaḥ*. The third class of coins of this type is the *Aśvamedha*: “Obverse: horse standing *l.*, before a sacrificial post (*Yūpa*), from which pennons fly over its back; on some specimens a low pedestal below. Beneath horse (*si*).” There is a long circular legend on the obverse: *Rājādhirājaḥ Pṛthivīm-avitvā divaṃ jayaty-aprati-vāryavīryaḥ*. The reverse shows “The chief queen (Mahiṣī) standing *l.*, wearing loose robe and jewellery, holding chowrie over *r.* shoulder in *r.* hand, *l.* hangs by her side; on *l.* is a sacrificial spear bound with fillet; around her feet a chain (?) extending round spear and on some specimens gourd (?) at feet.

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No symbol.” The legend on the reverse is *Aśvamedha-parākramaḥ*.¹ The name of Samudragupta does not appear on any of this class of coins and they have been attributed to this king solely on the ground of the average weight and the *biruda* *parākramaḥ*. They differ from the Aśvamedha coins of Kumāragupta I in the *biruda* Mahendra, which appears on the reverse of the latter and the uncertain legend on the reverse of the latter’s coinage *Jayati divam Kumāraḥ*.² We must now return to the medallions struck by Samudragupta in memory of his parents and his relation or friend, Kāca. The memorial medals of Samudragupta struck in memory of his parents are very elaborate. “Obverse: Candragupta I standing to *l.*, wearing close-fitting coat, trousers and head-dress, earrings and armlets, holding in *l.* hand a crescent-topped standard bound with fillet, and with *r.* hand offering an object, which on some coins is clearly a ring, to Kumāradevī who stands on *l.* to *r.* wearing loose robe, ear-rings, necklace and armlets, and tight-fitting head-dress; both nimbate. On *r.* on either side of the standard *Candragupta*, on *l.* *Kumāradevī* or *Śrī-Kumāradevī* or *Kumāradevī-Śrī*.” The reverse shows the seated goddess of the orthodox type but on a lion: “Goddess (Lakṣmī), nimbate, wearing long loose robe, seated facing on lion couchant to *r.* or *l.*, holding fillet in outstretched *r.* hand and cornucopiæ in *l.* arm; her feet rest on lotus;

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behind her on *l.* are traces of back of a throne on most specimens; border of dots. Symbol on *l.*” The reverse legend is simply *Licchavayaḥ*.¹ The memorial medals issued in the name of Kāca are extremely rare, being rarer than the Aśvamedha type. The obverse shows the name Kāca in a vertical line and the type resemble the Standard and Archer types of Samudragupta. “Obverse: King standing to *l.* dressed as in preceding types, holding standard surmounted by wheel (*cakra*) in *l.* hand, and sprinkling incense on altar with *r.* hand.” The name of Kāca is written under the left hand exactly in the same fashion as the name of Samudragupta on his regular coins and there is a long circular legend: *gāmavajitya divaṁ karmabhir=uttamair-jayati*. On the reverse we see the figure of a standing goddess standing to the left, wearing a loose robe, holding a flower and cornucopiæ in left arm. The reverse legend is *Sarva-rāj=occhettā* to the right of the figure.² Allan thinks that “The similarity of the obverse legend to that of the Archer type forms one of the strongest proofs of the identity of Kāca with Samudragupta. The ‘highest works’ are sacrifices, and may be referred to the Aśvamedha sacrifice with more probability than the *Sucaritair* of the Archer type . . . . . . . . . The reverse legend *Sarva-raj=occhettā*, ‘exterminator of all the rājās,’ is regularly applied to Samudragupta, and to him alone, in the inscriptions of his successors;

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it is not found in the extant portions of either of his two known inscriptions, but similar expressions are found in them¹.” In the light of Numismatics this proof is unconvincing, because in the case of no other king of the Gupta dynasty do we find another name of the king under the left arm of his figure on the obverse. In the ordinary type of the coins of the Gupta kings only one name is given under the left arm, *e.g.*, Candra for Candragupta II or Candragupta III, Kumāra or *Ku* for Kumāragupta I or Kumāragupta II and Skanda for Skandagupta. We know that Devagupta was another name of Candragupta II from the Sanchi inscription of the year² 93 and from the inscription of his daughter Kuberanāgā³, but this name has never been used on the coinage of that king. Consequently, it is impossible to believe in spite of the adjective clauses and the weight of Numismatic evidence that Kāca was another name for Samudragupta. We have already referred to him in very rare copper coins of this king.