Gold
circa 335-375 CE
India
CSMVS
Details
Culture/Civilisation
Ancient India
Theme
Empire: Projecting Power
Subtheme
Seeing the Ruler / Royal Portraiture
Case Title
Indian kings on a coin
Display Location
Coomaraswamy Hall
Findspot
Northern India
Measurements
Diameter. 23mm Weight. 7.55gm
Accession Number
19332
Description
Coins are the pictorial mass-media of the ancient world. Widely circulated, the king becomes part of your everyday shopping.
Following Greek models, Indian kings around 200 BCE began putting their portraits on coins. These were usually images of power rather than actual likenesses, showing the king as warrior or hunter, with his queen or playing a musical instrument. The other side shows a protective deity.
Curators Comments
Obv: King seated, nimbate, with his right leg folded, to left on a high-backed couch, playing on a lyre or vina (lute) which rests on his knees; beneath couch is a pedestal or footstool inscribed si; circular Brahmi inscription (2) rajadhiraja sri …… draguptah
Rev: Goddess, nimbate, seated to left on a wicker-stool, holding noose in outstretched right hand and cornucopia in left arm; Brahmi inscription on right, Samudraguptah
This is a lyrist type coin issued by Samudragupta wherein he is shown playing a lyre type instrument. He is seated on a couch with a foot stool below. Gupta rulers were depicted engaged in several activities/postures with this one leaving a testimony to the king’s interest in the arts.
