Coins of Gupta Dynasty/Golden Age of India

Samudragupta was the first of the four great emperors of the Gupta dynasty. His name appear in Javanese text `Tantrikamandaka', and Chinese writer, Wang-hiuen-tse refers that a ambassador was sent to his court by King Meghvarma of Shri Lanka, who had asked his permission to build a Buddhist monastery at Bodh Gaya for the monks traveling from Shri Lanka. But the most detailed and authentic record of his reign is preserved in the rock pillar of the Allahabad, composed by Harisena. Written in Sanskrit language in Brahmi script, this inscription is considered as the most important document of Gupta age.

Samudragupta enlarged the Gupta Kingdom by winning a series of battles till he was a master of Gangetic plains. Soon he defeated the kings of Vindhyan region (central India) and Deccan. He although made no attempt to incorporate the kingdoms of south of Narmada and Mahanadi rivers (southern India) into his domain. When he died his empire bordered with Kushan of Western province (modern Afghanistan and Pakistan) and Vakatakas in Deccan (modern southern Maharashtra). Samudragupta after all his military triumphs, performed the Ashwamedha Yagna (Horse sacrifice ceremony) which is evident on some of his coins (shown below). Ashwamedha Yagna gave him the coveted title of Maharajadhiraj, the supreme king of kings. His greatest achievement can be described as the political unification of most of the northern India or Aryavarta into a formidable power.

Most certainly, Samudragupta is the father of Gupta monetary system. It is very likely that, the Kushan gold coins were circulating in the north and central India (possibly in the eastern India too), the dominion which comprised of Samudragupta's empire. It was these Kushan coins which were the source of inspiration for Samudragupta. When he introduced the first Gupta coinage, they were of the same weight standard as that of Kushan. The Kushan rulers had adopted Roman standard and minted their coins as 8 gms unit, which were called as Dinara, derived from Roman name for their gold coins, Denarius Aurius. Thus, the Gupta gold coins were also named as Dinara and referred by that name in most contemporary literature. Interestingly, this obviously foreign weight standard (122.9 grains) was not very satisfactory for the rulers, thus a conscious effort was made by later Gupta rulers to mint coins in Indian weight standard, popularly called Suvarna. The Suvarna weight standard suggests coin of 144 grains or approximately 9.2 gms of gold. Finally, it was Skandagupta who succeeded in minting Gupta gold coins in Suvarna standard (commonly called as heavy type gold coins).

Laxmi or Lakshmi (also known by her other name Sri or Sridevi) is part of the trinity, the Tridevi, with Parvati (Ambika) and Saraswati being other two goddesses. Although first mentioned in Rigveda and Atharvaveda composed around 1000 BC, the earliest iconographic evidence of Laxmi is mostly seen as Gaja-Laxmi, accompanied by two elephants (Gaja means elephant) at two ancient places, Bharhut stupa, built during Mauryan-Shunga period, 2nd centiry BC (top image) and Sanchi Stupa, built by Mauryan-Shunga and Satavahana dynasties (199-100 BC) (lower image). Here she is shown either standing or sitting on lotus, holding flower in her hand. Being widely accepted image since Mauryan period, Gupta rulers first issued gold coins with Laxmi, a masterstroke by Samudragupta. This remained as the most iconic symbol on gold coins for another 700 years!

Beyond doubt Samudragupta was a great military general, but apart from that, his personal accomplishments are equally remarkable. He showed great magnanimity towards all those kings who were defeated. His polished intelligence and good knowledge of scriptures won him many admirers. He gathered a galaxy of poets and scholars and took effective actions to foster and propagate religious, artistic and literary aspects of Indian culture. He had good proficiency in music and was perhaps an accomplished Lyrist (Lyre or Veena is a musical instrument). This fact is amply demonstrated in his lyrist type coins. Most king took pride in trumpeting their bravery, but Samudragupta is the only king of Indian history who showed softer side of his personality (Kumargupta, his grandson, have copied this type and minted few Lyrist type gold coins, which are rare). These coins are very special and rare. Shown below is this coin where Samudragupta is shown playing Lyre, a kind of harp like string musical instrument. The legends on obverse in margin reads Maharajadhiraja Shri Samudragupta. The legends are in Sanskrit, written in Brahmi script.

Shown above is his `Battle Axe' type of coin, where King is shown standing looking left, holding battle-Axe (Parashu) with his left hand, resting right hand on hip. A dwarf looking upto him and standard at the left of flan. Brahmi legend `Samudra' below his arm. On reverse is Goddess Laxmi nimbate, enthroned holding cornucopiae and a bouquet of flower, symbol to left, to right the Brahmi legend `Krtantaparasuh'

Vikramaditya's most significant and well celebrated military achievement is the total destruction of Kshatrapas, the Shaka (Scythian) rulers of Malawa and Saurashtra, the western India (modern Gujrath and neighbouring states, including part of northern Maharashtra). He scored a fantastic victory over the Kshatrapa rulers and incorporated these provinces into his increasing empire. The cool courage that he showed in fight with Shakas and killing their king in their own city entitled him the epithets Shakari (destroyer of Shakas) or Sahasanka. He has also been credited for the era, popularly known as Vikram Samvat, which commence in 58 BC. This era has been used by major Hindu dynasties and still in use in modern India.

Chandragupta minted prodigious number of gold coins. Even today, the largest number of Gupta coins found in various hoards are minted during his rule, a solid evidence of prosperity of his reign.

Vikramaditya's reign was perhaps the most prosperous and progressive reign in the Indian history. The contemporary Chinese traveler and Buddhist monk Fa-hein was struck with the prosperity of subject during Gupta rule. He has admired the royal palaces and houses for dispensing charity medicine. He speaks highly of system of Government.

Shown above is a beautiful example of his coin where King is holding bow, looking right. It is a rare coin as most of his coin depicts him looking left. Shown below is another example of Vikramaditya's gold coin which shows him holding bow and arrow but looking left. Chandra (literally means moon) is written on obverse (below his arm). Also one can read Gupta on left side of coin. On reverse Laxmi is depicted, seated cross legged on lotus, holding flower in her left hand.

Vikramaditya minted seven distinct types of coins: Sceptre/standard type, Archer type, Chatra type, Chakravikrama type, horseman type, lion-slayer type and couch type. Shown below is another beautiful specimen of Vikramaditya where he is shown slaying a lion, an absolute beauty! The king is barebodied, a crest jewel on the forehead, curly hair falling on neck. He holds bow in right hand and strings it to ear by left hand to shoot at lion standing in front of him. The legend around read Narendrachandrah prathitaranorane jayatyajayyo bhuvi sinhavikramah. On reverse is Goddess Abmika-Laxmi nimbate, seated on lion, holding lotus in her left hand and noose in her right hand. The legend reads Simhavikramah (brave as lion).

Vikramaditya was succeeded by his able son Kumargupta I. He maintained his hold over the vast empire of his forebears, which covered most of India except southern four states of India. Later he too performed the Ashwamedha Yagna and proclaimed himself to be Chakrawarti, king of all kings. Why he did not mint coins commemorating this event is not clear. Kumargupta also was a great patron of art and culture; evidence exist that he endowed a college of fine arts at great ancient university at Nalanda, which flourished during 5th to 12th century AD. Numismatic evidence suggests that during his reign the Gupta empire was at its zenith. His reign also saw tremendous creativity and thus a lot of variety in Gupta coinage. Kumargupta minted 14 distinct types of Gold coins, the largest of all Gupta rulers. Many of them, like Rhinoceros-slayer, Apratigha (parents crowning him as ruler) and Kartikeya or Peacock rider type (shown below) are unique in entire Indian numismatic history. He also minted two coin types, Tiger-slayer (shown below) and Lyrist, which his grandfather, Samudragupta minted briefly. These two types were discontinued during the reign Chandragupta.

Shown above are two of the finest known coins of Kumargupta. On obverse, king is shown wearing short sleeved coat, Dhoti, turban, earrings, necklace, armlets, wristles and trampling tiger by his right foot. He is shooting at it with his bow held in right arm, left hand drawing the string of the bow. The tiger is shown falling backwards with gaping mouth. The legends on obverse reads Srimama Vyagrahabala Parakramaha, his majesty having the strength and valor of a tiger. The reverse show goddess Ganga, nimbate, standing, slightly bent on Makara, the mythic crocodile, holding behind her a lotus with long stalk, in her left hand. She is shown feeding a peacock with fruit (very likely the grapes) . The goddess, the river Ganga is shown wearing a sari, bodice, earrings, necklace, armlets etc. The Legends written in Brahmi reads his official name, Kumarguptodhiraja. This tiger slayer type of coins are very rare and considered to be the master pieces of craftsmanship and truly represents the glory of Gupta empire and their brave emperors. Both the coins were recovered from the famous Bayana hoard.

A hoard of at least 1821 (there were perhaps some more) gold coins belonging to Gupta dynasty was discovered in February 1946 near village Bayana in the Bharatpur princely state. It was first noticed by small boys scavenging for brass shell casings. These shells were of bullets fired by hunting party of Maharaja (King) of Bharatpur, Col. Brajendra Sawai Maharaja. This hoard was eventually acquired by Maharaja and a selection of coins from this hoard (mostly rare and beautiful coins) were picked up by Maharaja for making jewelry for members of Royal family. Rest of the coins of the hoard were graciously handed over to the first president of Modern India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, who himself was a distinguished scholar of Indian history and philosophy. Now, the coins from this hoard can be seen in the National museums of India, New Delhi, Prince of Wales Museum, Bombay and Lalit Kala Bhavan in Varanasi. All the coins from this hoard were cataloged by Dr. Anant Sadashiv Altekar, which remains the best reference book for Gupta gold coins. The two beautiful coins shown above are from the bracelet of the Queen of Bharatpur (either wife or aunt of Maharaja). The original bracelet had 9 (or 8) coins.

Kumargupta also minted fine silver coins during his long reign. A exceptionally well preserved and well struck coin of him is presented below. It shows his bust in Kshatrapa style and reverse is formalized Garuda with spread wings. Garuda was royal symbol of Gupta dynasty and is seen on many of their coins. The legends on coin, written in Brahmi script reads Parama bhagvata rajadhiraj Shri Kumargupta Mahendraditya. Silver coins were mainly intended for circulation in western part of Gupta empire, which was originally incorporated by Great Vikramaditya (father of Kumargupta). Since the western region (modern Gujrath state) had well developed silver coinage, popularized by earlier Shaka rulers, the same tradition was continued, except the Shaka symbol of river and three arched hill was replaced with Garuda or peacock (Skandagupta introduced this symbol), on reverse. Unlike, the gold coins where an effort was made to show rulers on coins in their life-like form, silver coinage were more or less just standard reproduction without consideration for the ruler's actual looks.

Skandagupta took over the Gupta empire and soon had to face with the formidable enemy, the Huns (Hepthalites). He successfully repelled their early invasions and proved to be able king and administrator in time of crisis. Skandagupta in Junagadh rock inscription is described as `embraced by the goddess of wealth and splendor who is chosen by Shri-Laxmi, a goddess of wealth'. This theme is reflected upon his coins of King and Shri-Laxmi type, shown below. These coins show victorious king (his physical attributes are particularly visible, notice the masculature and not to mention, the swagger!) and his divine consort Shri-Laxmi (who was considered as his second wife waiting on him invisibly, what an audacity!!) standing beneath the imperial Garuda (a mythical hawk like bird) banner, which signify victories of Gupta kings over barbarian Huns. The king is shown to carry a bow and arrow while Shri-Laxmi is depicted with lotus in her left hand.

Since Eastern part of India (modern Gujrath) was also part of his empire, he minted silver coins. Shown below is his silver coin minted in Kshatrapa style. Reverse is stylized humped bull with inscription Param bahagvata Shri Skandagupta Kramaditya.

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