The rulers of the Gupta Empire brought an innovation in the history of coin minting. The Gupta rulers issued the most gold coins in the history of Indian currency. From the coins, the people’s taste for literature and art of the contemporary Gupta Empire is visible. Among the coins issued, Samudragupta coins are the most significant in Indian currency history.
The practice of engraving the name and image of the king along with his wife on coins started from the time of the Gupta Empire. The first evidence of this is the earliest gold coin, “Chandragupta-Kumaradevi Coin,” introduced by Chandragupta I.
Every ruler of the Gupta dynasty introduced some coins, but the kings who introduced the most coins in order were Kumaragupta I, Chandragupta II, and Samudragupta. Samudragupa coins were particularly famous among the coins issued by the rulers of the Gupta Empire. Because the Samudragupa coins bear witness to the spread of the Gupta Empire over a wide area.
The early coins of the Gupta Kings were found in eastern Uttar Pradesh. The Gupta kings borrowed many features and characteristics of coins from the rulers of the Kushana Dynasty and Shaka or Saka Dynasty, but the influence of Kushana coins was more prominent. In this era, the ratio of gold to silver was 1:16.
Although many gold, silver, and copper coins were found in the Gupta period, copper coins were rare. Chandragupta II first introduced silver coins. Gupta coins were mostly found in North India, Bengal, and Odisha. Among the coins of the Gupta era, the most notable were Samudragupta’s coin with his image playing the veena, Chandragupta I’s coin with the image of lotus-seated Lakshmi, Chandragupta II’s coin with the Shakas’ symbol Chaitya and Ardhachandra, and Kumaragupta I’s Kartikeya Type Gold Coin.
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Types of Samudragupta Coins
If we are talking about Samudragupta coins, he introduced a total of six types of gold coins during his reign. Samudragupta gold coins are Standard Type, Archer Type, Battle Axe Type, Ashvamedha Type, Tiger Slayer Type, and Lyrist Type.
Standard Type Coin
The standard type gold coin is the most popular of the Samudragupta coins. Out of a total of 183 coins of Samudragupta found from the Bayana Hoard, 136 were Standard Type gold coins. This was the first coin introduced by Samudragupta. They vary in size from 0.75 inch to 0.9 inch. The coins generally ranged from 104.5 grains to 122 grains.
On the Reverse Side of the coin, Samudragupta’s title ‘Prakramah’ (brave) was found. On the Obverse side, the king is seen offering oblations in a sacrifice. It also mentions that he was victorious in 100 battles and achieved victory over the kings of the Naga Dynasty.
Archer Type Coin
The coins of the Archer type vary in size from 0.8 inch to 0.9 inch and in weight from 110 to 120 grains. Their recorded find spots are Bharsar (Banaras district), Jaunpur, Bodhagaya, and Bayana.
On the obverse side of the coin, the art of the king is seen well-adorned, with an arrow in the left hand and a fragrant substance in the right hand. Below the left hand is written “Samudra” and in a circle is written “Apratiratho Vijitya Kshitim Sucharitair (or Avanipatir) Divam Jayati.” On the reverse side, goddess Lakshmi is well-adorned, and Samudragupta’s title ‘Apratirathah’ (invincible) was found.
Battle Axe Type Coin
The Battle Axe type coins’ average weight of good specimens is 118 grains. The coins of the Battle axe type vary from 0.75 inch to 0.85 inch in diameter. Kanauj, Banaras, and Bayana are among the recorded findspots of this type of coin.
On the obverse side, the king has a battle axe in the left hand and a right hand on the waist, and a dwarf is present for assistance. On the reverse side, goddess Lakshmi is well-adorned on the throne, and his title ‘Kritanta-Parashuh’ is engraved.
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Ashvamedha Type Coin
Towards the end of Samudragupta’s reign, he performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice to commemorate the conquest of the kingdoms of North and South India. These Ashvamedha type coins mainly weighed 115 grains, in some cases 118 grains. The coins of the Asvamedha type vary in size from 0.75″ to 0.9″. The coins were mostly found in the regions from Patna to Saharanpur.
On the front of the coin, instead of the king, a sacrificial horse is tied in front of a Yupa wood. On the reverse of the coin, Queen Dattadevi is depicted standing crowned on a circular gear-bordered mat. Along with Samudragupta’s title ‘Ashvamedha-Prakramah’ (powerful enough to perform the ashvamedha) is written. This is the only coin where Samudragupta’s image is not present.
Tiger Slayer Type Coin
Only six coins have been found so far, and the Tiger-slayer type coin is one of the rarest coins of Samudragupta. Two of them were found in the Bayana hoard, but the findspots of others are not known. Their size is 0.85 inches, and their weight varies from 111 to 117 grains.
On the obverse of the Tiger slayer type, the king stands to the left and tramples upon and shoots at a tiger by his bow. The king is wearing a dhoti, jacket, a crown on the head, and other ornaments.
On the reverse of the coin, the image of Goddess Ganga is engraved. She is standing on a crocodile, adorned with ornaments. In her left hand is a blooming lotus, but her right hand is empty. There is a banner with a crescent top in front of her as well. Samudragupta’s titles ‘Vaghra-Prakramah’ (brave as a tiger) and ‘Raja Samudragupta’ were found on it.
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Lyrist Type Coin
The obverse of the Lyrist type shows the king seated upon a cushioned couch and playing upon a lyre (vina) resting on his lap.
On the reverse of the coin, the goddess is depicted sitting on a wicker stool with her right hand holding a noose and her left hand holding a cornucopia. Even on the reverse of the coin, ‘Maharajadhiraja Sri Samudragupta’ is engraved.
