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| 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.
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