Gupta Coins

The Gupta era was spanning from 319 AD to 550 AD. It witnessed a significant revival of Hinduism. The primary material used for Gupta Coins was gold, although silver and copper coins were also minted. Silver coins of the Gupta Period came into circulation during the reign of Chandragupta II, following the overthrow of the Western Satraps. Gupta Coins will be helpful for UPSC IAS Exam preparation. GS Paper-1 History.

Table of Content

• Gupta Coins
• Chandragupta I
• Samudragupta
• Vikramaditya or Chandragupta II
• Kumargupta I
• Skandagupta
• Conclusion
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Gupta Coins

• The era marked the rise of the illustrious Kushana and Gupta empires.
• Following the decline of the Kushana Empire, smaller kingdoms emerged and acquired territories.
  • Among them, the Gupta dynasty emerged as a significant power.
• Originating as a small kingdom in Magadha, the Guptas gradually expanded their rule across Southern Asia.
• Through capable and strong leadership, the dynasty firmly established itself in the Indian Subcontinent.
• At its peak, the Gupta Empire encompassed northern India from the Indus in the west to the Brahmaputra in the east, extending along the eastern coast of the Indian Peninsula in the south.
• In the early 4th century A.D., the Gupta dynasty emerged from a small principality in Eastern Uttar Pradesh or Bihar, lasting for over two centuries.
• Sri Gupta, the founder, was succeeded by his grandson, Chandragupta I, who significantly expanded the kingdom.
• Samudragupta, Chandragupta I’s son, achieved extensive conquests and exerted influence over rulers on the southeastern coast and beyond, celebrating an Ashvamedha (horse sacrifice).

Chandragupta I

• Chandragupta I most likely did not personally mint his own gold coins, although some scholars suggest that he may have commissioned gold coins featuring himself, the king, and his queen, Kumardevi.
  • However, it is highly probable that these coins were actually minted by their son, Samudragupta.
• Here, we present an exquisite specimen of this extraordinary coin, showcasing Chandragupta and Kumardevi in a depiction devoid of any halos.
• Chandragupta is seen presenting a ring or applying Sindur (vermilion) to his queen, Kumardevi.
• The name “Chandra” in the ancient Brahmi script is inscribed beneath the left arm of the king, while “Shri-Kumardevi” is written near the right hand of the queen.
• On the reverse side of the coin, the goddess Ambika is depicted seated upon a lion.
• The inscription on the reverse reads “Lichchavyah,” implying that Samudragupta took great pride in his lineage as the son of a Lichchavi princess.
• This exceptional gold coin serves as a testament to his profound affection and respect for his parents.

Samudragupta

• Samudragupta was a renowned monarch renowned for his military prowess and administrative efficiency, he played a pivotal role in the Gupta Empire.
• Under his competent rule, the empire witnessed the production of exceptional gold coins, setting the stage for India’s Golden Age.
• Throughout his reign, he exclusively minted gold coins known as “DINAR,” encompassing seven distinct types, including the notable “LICHHAVIYA” variety.
• These coins offer valuable insights into the rise of the mighty Gupta Empire and its economic landscape.
• Samudragupta’s coinage stands apart from the earlier Kushana Coinage through its distinctively Indian depiction of attire, weaponry, and goddesses.

Samudragupta’s coins can be categorized as follows:

• Standard Type: These coins are widely circulated and abundant, depicting the king adorned with a cap and holding a Garudadhvaja in his left hand. On the reverse side, you will find the goddess Lakshmi.
• Archer Type: Adding innovation to Indian numismatics, these coins are rare and portray Samudragupta with a bow.
• Battle Axe Type: Showcasing an array of weapons, including battle axes, bows, arrows, and swords, this coin type displays Samudragupta’s battle-axe bearing the inscription “KRITANTPARASHUH.”
• Lichhaviya Type: These coins were issued by Samudragupta to honor his father, Chandragupta I. They bear the images of King CHANDRAGUPTA I and his queen KUMARADEVI from the Lichchavi dynasty.
• Kacha Type: Inscribed with the legend “KACHA,” these coins symbolize the king’s conquest of the earth and his ascension to heavenly realms through righteous deeds. The reverse side proudly proclaims him as the “EXTERMINATOR OF ALL THE KINGS.”
• Tiger Slayer Type: Featuring the king trampling a tiger while wielding a bow, these coins carry the inscription “VYAGRAPARAKRAMAH” on the obverse.
• Lyrist Type: Showcasing the king seated on a high-backed couch, playing the VEENA instrument resting on his knees, the obverse of these coins is adorned with the legend “MAHAADHIRAJA.”
• Asvamedha Type: These unique coins depict a horse standing before the Yupa (sacrificial post).

Vikramaditya or Chandragupta II

• Chandragupta-II became the ruler of the Gupta empire when it was at its height.
• He expanded the empire by acquiring territories that his father, Samudragupta, had not conquered.
• His reign supported and nurtured various fields of art, contributing to the Golden Age of India.
• Chandragupta-II minted a total of eight types of gold coins called dinars, along with silver coins called denaree and copper coins called daler.
• The gold coins depicted him as “Vikramaditya,” seated on a couch and holding an object.
• The coins showcased exquisite modelling of the king’s figure, intricate details, and fine numismatic art.
• Some of his coins portrayed the king’s interest in hunting and riding, while others depicted his worship of Chakra-Purusha.
• The Chakra-Purusha coins showed the deity bestowing three round objects, representing either the three worlds or the three royal powers, upon the king.
• Chandragupta-II issued eight types of coins, including the Archer type, Couch type, Chhatra type, Lion Slayer type, Horseman type, Standard type, Chakravikrama type, and Kalasha type.
• Towards the later part of his reign, he introduced silver and copper currency for circulation in Gujarat and Kathiawar.
  • However, the majority of his coins were gold, and the imperial mints were active throughout his reign.

Kumargupta I

• Kumaragupta-I, also known as “Mahendraaditya,” minted a diverse range of 14 gold and silver coins during his reign.
• The variety of coins reflects the vastness and prosperity of his empire.
• However, the Gupta Empire faced a decline during the later part of Kumaragupta-I’s rule due to the Huna invasion.
• To cope with financial difficulties, Kumaragupta-I introduced silver-plated coins (daler).
• Some of his coins combined motifs of slayers and riders, such as horse and rhinoceros or elephant and lion.
• One type of coin depicted the king with a dwarf male attendant holding a chhatra (parasol) in the background.
• Another type showed three standing figures, although their exact representation remains uncertain.
• Among the other types of coins issued by Kumaragupta-I were the Archer type, Swordsman type, Asvamedha type, Horseman type, Lion Slayer type, Tiger Slayer type, Peacock or Kartikeya type, Pratapa type, Elephant Rider type, and Asvamedha type (similar to Samudragupta’s coins).
• Kumaragupta revived the lyrist type and king queen type coins from the reign of previous rulers.
• The Elephant Rider and Lion Slayer types showcased his sportive and hunting capacities.
• A unique variety was the Rhino Slayer type, which introduced a rhinoceros motif in Indian numismatic art for the first time.
• Kumaragupta-I also issued debased silver and copper coins for circulation in western India, featuring his bust on the obverse and a peacock or Garuda on the reverse.
• Both Samudragupta and Kumaragupta-I minted special coins as Dakshina to distribute among the priests who participated in their Ashvamedha sacrifices.
• These coins depicted the sacrificial horse in front of the Yupa on one side and the goddess of victory, Vijaya, with a fly whisk on the other.

Skandagupta

• The gold coins of Skandagupta, inscribed as “Kramaditya,” lacked variety.
• The illustrious Gupta period began its decline during Skandagupta’s reign.
• Skandagupta issued four types of gold dinars and three types of silver denarius coins.
• The Gupta gold coins, previously exemplary in numismatic art, started losing their shine, reflecting the political strain and decline of the empire.
• Skandagupta’s coin types included the Archer type, King and Lakshmi type, Horseman type, and Chattra type.
• The silver coins featured the king’s bust on the obverse and various symbols such as a bull, fire altar, or peacock on the reverse.
• Skandagupta’s successors, Purugupta and Kumaragupta-II, issued only the Archer type of gold coin.
• Budhagupta followed the same coin type as his predecessors, but the artistic quality significantly declined.
• The lack of consistency within the same coin design indicated a steady decline of the once-mighty empire.

Conclusion

Coins of Gupta period exhibited a wide range of types and varieties. One side of these coins depicted the king engaged in various activities such as making oblations before an altar, playing the veena, performing Ashvamedha, riding a horse or an elephant, slaying a lion, tiger, or rhinoceros with a sword or bow, or sitting on a couch. The other side of the Gupta coins featured Goddess Lakshmi seated on a throne or a lotus seal, or the queen herself. Notably, the inscriptions on these coins were all in Sanskrit (Brahmi script), a first in the history of coinage. Gupta rulers depicted themselves on coins engaged in martial activities like hunting lions or tigers and posing with weapons, as well as leisurely pursuits such as playing the Veena. The reverse side of the Gupta coins showcased images of Goddess Lakshmi, Durga, Ganga, Garuda, and Kartikeya.

Ref: Source-1

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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)