Gupta Dynasty, Kumaragupta I (Mahendraditya) (415-455 AD), Gold Dinar, "Swordsman" type, Obv: king, nimbate standing facing left, Garuda standard beside him, his right hand extended offering oblations onto the fire altar, his left hand rests on the hilt of his sword and his dagger at his waist, Brahmi letter 'Ku' with surmounted crescent at the right field, Brahmi legend "Gamavijitya sucha (ritaih Kumaragupto divam jaya) ti", last letter of the legend is shown between garuda and king's head, Rev: goddess Lakshmi seated on a lotus in padmasana facing front, holding diadem in her right hand while the left is resting on her thigh, a lotus is seen adjacent to the goddess's face, its stem is seen rising from under her left arm, tamgha at top left, Brahmi legend "Sri Kumaragupta" in the right field, 8.04g, 19.19mm, (Altekar, Bayana Hoard # Pl. XXI-12/TOTGE, S. Kumar # Var. A2), choice extremely fine with high relief legends, Exceptionally Rare.
The Swordsman type is one of the rarest types of Kumaragupta gold coinage. Kumaragupta is seen holding a sword in his left hand, the stylization is totally Indianized version where king is shown wearing short dhoti (kacchha) with waist-band and bare-bodied at top. The legends on the obverse “Gamavajitya sucharitaih Kumaragupto divam jayati” "गामवजित्य सुचरितः कुमारगुप्तो देवं जयति” is adapted from the Chhatra type of Chandragupta II where “Kshitim” of original is substituted by its synonym “Gam”. The metre is Upagiti and translation is “Having conquered the earth, Kumaragupta wins heaven by meritorious deeds”. This coin is testament of the golden period of Gupta empire in the Indian history.
First time offered in any Indian auction!
