The Age of the Imperial Guptas c10.35

c10.35

After discussing the weights of the different types of the gold coins of Candragupta, Allan is of opinion that “It is clear, then, that two standards may be distinguished in most types one of 121 grains and another of 126 grains; the latter, which becomes usual in Kumāragupta’s reign, is due to approximation to local standard."'¹ The Standard type of the coinage of Samudragupta was not issued by Candragupta II and the ordinary gold coin of the reign appears to be the Archer type. Allan divides the Archer type into two different classes, in the first of which we find the goddess on the reverse seated on a throne and on the second on a lotus. The obverse bears the figure of the king as on the coins of Samudragupta of the same type: "King standing *l.*, nimbate, as on Archer type of Samudragupta, holding bow in *l.* hand and arrow in *r.*; Garuda standard bound with fillet on *l.*" The king's name is given in a vertical line under the left arm of the figure and around the flan of the coin is the circular legend *Deva-Śrī-Mahārājādhirāja-Śrī Candraguptaḥ*.² Two varieties are distinguished in this class in one of which the string of the bow is inwards and the name of the king is given between the figure and the string. In the other variety the string is outwards and the name of the king is given to the right of the string. In the second class Allan distinguishes several varieties:—