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INDIA, Gupta Empire - Samudragupta
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Gupta Empire, Samudragupta, Gold Dinar, 7.9g, Standard or Sceptre Type
Obv: King, nimbate and wearing fine ornaments, standing facing left and sacrificing at fire altar, holding the royal sceptre (rājadanda) in left hand, Garuda-dhwajja (standard) to the left, Brāhmī legend under left arm: Sa-mu-dra, circular sanskrit legend in Upagati metre inscribed in Brāhmī script around /Samarashatavitatavijayo Jitaripur Ajito Divam Jayati meaning (the emperor) who conquered all his enemies scoring victories in numerous battles wins heaven (thru his good deeds).
Rev: Lakshmi enthroned facing, holding cornucopia and diadem, both feet resting on a dotted cushion, tamgha to left and Brāhmī legend at right: Parākramah (Valour)
The Gupta period is considered the "Golden Age" of classical India. This was a time when great universities flourished in Nalanda and Taxila, and great writers such as the playwright Kalidasa and great scientists such as the mathematician and astronomer Aryabhatta, who is credited with the concept of zero among his many achievements, helped create an atmosphere of tremendous creative impulse. Gupta art is regarded as the high point of classical Indian art, and the coinage is equally regarded as among the most beautiful of ancient India.
Samudra Gupta was a prolific coin issuer and issued seven different types of Gold coins viz. the standard type, archer type, the battle axe (Parashu) type, tiger slayer type, Ashwamedha type, the King-Queen type and the ‘Lyrist’ (Veena player) type. While the archer, battle axe and tiger slayer type's showcase his martial achievements, unique amongst Indian Numismatics (and perhaps the World) is the Lyrist type that exhibits his softer and gentler side.
The standard type coin of Samudragupta is undoubtedly one of the first Gupta coins as it shows a close similarity to the 'standing-king-offering-sacrifice-at-fire-altar' type Kushan coins. The Gold coin of the Kushan ruler, Shaka, might be the actual prototype, as he was mentioned in Samudragupta's Allahabad inscription and must have been his contemporary.
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