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Coins of Samudra Gupta
Among the Gupta kings, the coins of Samudra Gupta are especially significant.

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Coins of Samudra GuptaAmong the Gupta kings, the coins of Samudra Gupta are especially significant.

Six types of his coins have been found which can be mentioned as follows:


• Standard type of Garud-dhvaja type: On the one side of coin a king is represented having a garud-dhvaja in his left hand and making offerings to the fire with his right hand. He is wearing a cap, coat and ornaments. Round the king there are inscribed the word `samarshatavitatavijayojitari-purajit Divam jayati` in a circular form. Under his left hand Samudra or samudra Gupta is written. On the reverse of the coins goddess Lakshami seated on the lion has been represented. This portion of the coin also inscribes the title `parakrama` and some meaningless letters as well.


• Archer type: The obverses of such coins represent the king with a bow and garud-dhvaja. The name of Samudra Gupta is written under the left hand. On the four sides of the king there is a word written in a circular form. And the word can be mentioned as `Apratiratho vijtya kshitia sucharitai divam jayati`. On the reverse of the coin goddess Lakshami has been represented seated on the throne and having in her hand the flower of lotus. The right side of this figure the word `Kratantaparashu` is written.


• Lyrist type: On the obverse of the coin, there is the figure of the king playing on the lute and words `Maharaja dhiraja shri samudra gupta` are written. On the reverse of the coin there is the figure of Lakshami in sitting position. The word `Samudra Gupta` is also written in this side of the coin.


• Lion slayer type: In this type of coins Samudra Gupta armed with bow and arrow and thus has been represented as killing the lion and under this figure the words, `Vyaghra parakram` are written. On the reverse of the coin there is a figure of goddesses standing on a makara i.e. a fish with an elephant head and on its right side `Raja Samudra Gupta` is written.


• Asvamedha type: On one side of a coin, a horse stands near a yupa or sacrificial post. The words, `Rajadhiraj prithvi vijitya divam jayatyahutvasimedha` are inscribed in a circular form. On the reverse there is the representation of the chief queen of Samudra Gupta. The words `Asvamedh parakrama` are also written on one side of the coin.

It may be noted that the early coins of Samudra Gupta were modeled on foreign influence but his later coins are purely Indian. His lion slayer type and lyrist type coins are purely Indian


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