The Age of the Imperial Guptas c10.21.3

c10.21.3

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;