Extremely Rare Gold Dinar Coin of Chandragupta II of Gupta Dynasty of Archer type.

 Coin of Chandragupta

Gupta Dynasy, Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) (375-415 AD), Gold Dinar, Archer Type, Unusual Variety of Reverse Archer and Reverse Face, Obv: king standing to right looking backwards to left with the body also turned one fourth to the left, wearing janghia and sash with the upper half body and the head bare only, holding arrow in right hand and the left hand is seen holding the bow at center from inside the string, bow is also reverse than of usual right, garuda standard Garuda dwhaja, Chandra outside the bow-string, circular brahmi legend 'Devasrimaharajadhirajadhirajasri-Chandraguptah', Rev: goddess lakshmi seated facing on a lotus in padmasana, holding noose in her right hand and lotus in left whose stem is coming from inside the hand resting on the thigh, tamgha to left with brahmi legend ‘Sri Vikramah’, 7.74g, 18.01mm, (Altekar, Bayana Hoard # Pl. XIII-5), about extremely fine, Extremely Rare.

Many coins are reported in Chandragupta II with the reverse face but this combination of reverse face and reverse archer is offered for the first time. The interesting thing to note here is that the bow is held by king in reverse position and his hand is coming within the bow and resting at the center of the bow. Usually what we see is the reverse looking king with his hand going up and holding the bow from the top but this specimen has the hand coming to the down holding the bow from the center. The bow is seen resting on the shoulders of the king. And if the reverse is observed than the lotus stem will be seen going from inside the lower part of hand to the top. This type of the king’s position makes this specimen amazing. Lovely artistic features overall on this beautiful specimen.

BMC catalog does not list this in their collection ,very interesting specimen missing from various collections.

https://www.marudhararts.com/printed-auction/auction-no-20/lot-no-173/stamps-of-india/british-india-till-1947-/scinde-dawk/stamp/extremely-rare-scinde-dawk-stamp-with-diamond-dots-of-1852-.html

Extremely Rare Gold Dinar Coin of Samudragupta of Gupta Dynasty of Lyrist Type.

Coin of Samudragupta

Gupta Dynasty, Samudragupta (335-370 AD), Gold Dinar, Lyrist type, Obv: king seated upright facing left on a high-backed throne, wearing pearled cap,   playing a veena (lute) that rests on his knees, and on footstool character ’Si’ for siddham (luck) below couch off flan, circular brahmi legend "Maharajadhiraja Shri...guptah" in the exergue, Rev: goddess lakshminimbate seated left on a wicker stool holding a diadem fillet in her right hand and a cornucopia in the left, the feets are resting on the lotus, brahmi legend "Samudraguptah" in right margin, 7.38g, 21.08mm, (unlsited), about extremely fine, Extremely Rare.

This specimen is of very high artistic designs with deep details and probably unlisted in all the major publications including Altekar, this variety does not show tamgha in front of the goddess and the feets of goddess are seen in the resting position on the lotus. The legs of the couch are totally different than the listed type in the ref. catalogs and are very artistic. Amazing specimen overall!

https://www.marudhararts.com/printed-auction/auction-no-20/lot-no-164/stamps-of-india/british-india-till-1947-/scinde-dawk/stamp/extremely-rare-scinde-dawk-stamp-with-diamond-dots-of-1852-.html

Extremely Rare Gold Dinar Coin of Samudragupta of Gupta Dynasty of Ashwamedha Type.

Gold Dinar Coin of Samudragupta

Gupta Empire, Samudragupta (345-375 AD), Gold Dinar, 'Ashwamedha' type, Obv: sacrificial horse standing left, low platform before a Yupa (sacrificial post), slightly bent in the centre, yupa has an ornamental pedestral in two steps, adorned with banners and ribbons, in its front, brahmi legend 'RajadhirajaPrthivimavi....vajayatyahri' (King of Kings, who conquered the earth, Restorer of Ashwamedh), around, brahmi letter 'Si' (Siddam) on top of a pedestal placed on the platform under the horse belly, Rev: chief queen in the guise of a goddess, standing left pedestal carrying a fly-whisk in her flexed hand, placed on her shoulder and holding towel in left hand, brahmi legend 'AshwamedhaParakramah' in the right field and ritual needle or Soochi in the left, 8.0g, 21.83mm, Unlisted type in Altekar and BMC (the variant of BMC Pl. V-10 &Altekar Pl. III-7) , well centre struck, choice extremely fine, Extremely Rare.

Very interesting specimen than of all the other types from the series, the throat, neck, shoulder and chest of the horse is broader than of normal specimens. Coin has the stylised version of the horse where the front of the body is much broader and the back of the horse is seen more inclined. 

The yupa is also stylized from the bottom with ribbons on the middle part of it, the extended part from the top of yupa is in the standard form without the dotted motifs or floral designs. The placement of the letter 'Si' over a pedestal is a rare variation for the type.

https://www.marudhararts.com/printed-auction/auction-no-20/lot-no-161/stamps-of-india/british-india-till-1947-/scinde-dawk/stamp/extremely-rare-scinde-dawk-stamp-with-diamond-dots-of-1852-.html

Extremely Rare Gold Dinar Coin of Samudragupta of Gupta Dynasty of Lyrist type.

Coin of Samudragupta

Gupta Dynasty, Samudragupta (335-370 AD), Gold Dinar, "Lyrist" Type, Obv: king seated upright facing left on a high-backed throne, wearing pearled crown (cap) and only dhoti (bare bodied), playing a veena (lute) that rests on his knees and brahmi character 'Si' for Siddham (luck) on footstool, circular brahmi legend "Maharajadhiraja Shri...(Samudra) guptah", the letter 'ptah' appears between the lute and the king's head, Rev: goddess lakshmi, nimbate seated left on a wicker stool, holding a diadem fillet in her right hand and a cornucopia in the left, the feets are resting on the carpet, brahmi legend "Samudraguptah" in the right margin, 7.5g, 22.22mm, Unlisted type, obverse is slightly doublestrucked, choice extremely fine, Extremely Rare.

This specimen is of very high artistic details and designs where the corrnucopia held by goddess is distinct of all those types listed by Altekar and in BMC collection. Tamgha which is always seen in front of the Goddess is absent on this specimen. Another important point to notice here that there is no carpet under the feet of goddess.

https://www.marudhararts.com/printed-auction/auction-no-23/lot-no-68/coins-of-india/ancient-india/punch-marked-coins/gandhara-janapada-bc-600-300-/very-rare-punch-marked-silver-bentbar-coin-of-gandhara-janapada-.html

Extremely Rare Gold Dinar Coin of Chandragupta II of Gupta Dynasty of Lion Slayer type.

 Gold Dinar Coin of Chandragupta

Gupta Dynasty, Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya II) (375-415 AD), Gold Dinar, "Lion Slayer" Type, Obv: armored king  wearing dhoti slaying the lion and trampling the lion on the belly by left leg, holding bow in left hand with right hand shown as having released the bow string, lion is falling backwards with arrow in its mouth, circular brahmi legend "Narendra.....(Chandra prathitano rane.."),  Rev: nimbate goddess lakshmi (durga) with skull cap seated in a riding posture facing straight with high neck on the roaring lion seated with high postured neck, goddess holding diadem in her right hand and left hand resting on the body of the lion, brahmi legend at right "Simhavikrama", 7.73g, 18.20mm, Unlisted type, about extremely fine, Extremely Rare.

This specimen is very alluring because of the goddess riding on  a lion. The important noticeable point is the unusual pose of the goddess on the reverse where she has seen seated in the riding posture on the lion as if she is riding a horse (usually it is observed that the goddess has the front facing seated pose). The lion appears to be charging towards the left with its mouth agape in a ferocious roar. Goddess holding diadem instead of lotus is a variant of Altekar. Bayana Hoard # Pl. XVIII-6 and the king’s posture is dynamic where he is leaning forward and trampling the lion under his foot rather than standing straight. 

https://www.marudhararts.com/printed-auction/auction-no-23/lot-no-72/coins-of-india/ancient-india/punch-marked-coins/gandhara-janapada-bc-600-300-/very-rare-punch-marked-silver-bentbar-coin-of-gandhara-janapada-.html

Samudragupta Gold Dinar Haymedha type

Gold Dinar Coin of Samudragupta

Gupta Empire, Samudragupta (345-375 AD), Gold Dinar, 'Haymedha' type, Obv: sacrificial horse standing left, low platform before a Yupa (Sacrificial post), slightly bent in the centre, yupa has an ornamental pedestal of two steps, adorned with banners and ribbon at bottom, two crescents at the rump seen just above the horse, brahmi legend 'RajadhirajahPrthvivijitya (divamjayatyarhitahvajimedah)....above the horse', brahmi letter 'Si' (Siddam) under the horse belly, Rev: chief queen in the guise of a goddess standing left on a circular mat pedestal carrying a fly-whisk in her flexed hand which is placed on her shoulder and holding towel in the left hand, she wears a crest ornament on the forehea, Brahmi legend 'HaymedhaParakramah' in the right field and ritual needle or sacrificial Suchi (a spear like pointed object) before the queen adorned with a fillet, 7.60g, 20.09mm, Unlisted, about very fine, Unique.

Ashwamedha or Haymedha was one of the grandest of the Vedic religious rites of ancient India, performed by a king to celebrate or to be more precise is to prove their imperial sovereignty. The ceremony is described in detail in various Vedic writings, particularly the Shatapath Brahmana. A special fine stallion was selected and was allowed to roam freely for a year under the protection of a royal guard. If the horse entered a foreign country, its ruler had either to fight or to submit. If the horse was not captured during the year, it was victoriously brought back to the capital accompanied by the rulers of the lands it entered, and then sacrificed at a great public ceremony, which was accompanied by much feasting and celebration. The wandering horse was said to symbolize the Sun in its journey over the world and, consequently, the power of the king over the whole Earth. On successfully carrying out a horse sacrifice, the king could assume the title of chakravarti (universal monarch). The rite served not only to glorify the king but also to ensure the prosperity and fertility of the entire kingdom.

The major point to note is the usage of a different variant of the word Hay which in Sanskrit or Hindi is the synonym of Ashwa alias Ghotak, Raviputra, Turang, Saindhav, Dadhika, Sarta etc.

It could be noted from this specimen that at the time of issuing the Ashwamedha coins to commemorate and to celebrate the Vedic ritual, the orders were issued to celebrate this event in grandeur in the whole Gupta Kingdom and simultaneously the royal court would have selected some prominent and major coin mints to strike the Horse Sacrifice coins. And one of them would have minted this typical different type than the usual Ashwamedha types where they have used the Sanskrit word “HAY” instead of “ASHWA” and struck HaymedhaParakramah.

This specimen is as similar as the Battle-Axe type where the word "Kr" was used instead of "Samudra" in obverse. And similarly of Tiger-Slayer type where the word "Vyaghra-Nihanta" is used instead of "Raja Samudragupta" on the reverse.

Highly significant coin from the Gupta Dynasty as “Hay” is readable instead of “Ashwa” on this. Only 2-3 specimens are known including this one. Unlisted in all the major reference catalogs of Gupta coins including the Altekar – Bayana Hoard, BMC. 

First time offered in any auction.

https://marudhararts.com/printed-auction/auction-no-20/lot-no-162/stamps-of-india/british-india-till-1947-/scinde-dawk/stamp/extremely-rare-scinde-dawk-stamp-with-diamond-dots-of-1852-.html

Gold Dinar Coin of Kumaragupta I of Gupta Dynasty of Tiger Slayer type.

 Gupta Dynasty of Tiger Slayer

Gupta Dynasty, Kumaragupta I (Mahendraditya) (415-455 AD), Gold Dinar, "Tiger - Slayer" Type, Obv: king, nimbate, standing in tribhanga posture facing to left, wearing turban, earrings, dhoti, long sash at waist, trampling Tiger by right foot and shooting at it with bow held in right hand with left hand shown as having released the bow string, Tiger is falling backwards with gaping mouth, Brahmi letter 'Ku'  with surmounted crescent at the right field, circular Brahmi legend "Srimam......",  Rev: goddess Ganga, nimbate, standing on a Makara (crocodile) facing left, feeding a peacock with her right hand while the left is holding a lotus with long stalk is seen adjacent to the goddess's face, tamgha at upper left, Brahmi legend at right field "Kumaraguptodhiraja", 7.97g, 18.91mm, (variant of Altekar, Bayana Hoard # Pl. XXVII- 4&5/TOTGE, S. Kumar # Var. A.1), choice very fine, Exceedingly Rare.

This coin represents a revival of the tiger slayer type by Kumaragupta, it was one of the rarest types of his grand-father Samudragupta. However, his father Chandragupta II did not issue coins in this type. The obverse legends which went off flan on this specimen reads “Srimam Vyaghrabalaparakkramah” श्रीमां व्याध्रबलपराक्रम: translates in English as “His Majesty having the strength and valour of a tiger”. The reverse legend reads “Kumarguptodhirajah” कुमारगुप्तोधिराजा:, it means that the “Kumargupta is a King over Kings”. The Goddess standing on crocodile is associated with Goddess Ganga.

https://marudhararts.com/printed-auction/auction-no-28/lot-no-40/coins-of-india/ancient-india/punch-marked-coins/shakya-janapada-600-500-bc-/archaic-punch-marked-silver-five-shana-coin-of-shakya-janapada-.html