Gupta Empire, gold dinar of Kumara Gupta I (c.415-450 AD), 'Horseman' type, Altekar Class I, var. C; S. Kumar Class I, variety C.1, similar to S. Kumar coin 657, 17.57mm; 8.15g. Obv: King riding caparisoned horse cantering to right, bare-chested, wearing dhoti, armbands, and jeweled necklace, horse with jeweled braided mane; Brahmi legend Kshitipatirajito vijayi Kumaragupto divam jayati
[The unconquered and victorious King Kumaragupta wins the heavens], visible in parts from 12 o'clock along the margin. Rev: Nimbate Goddess Lakshmi seated in profile, facing left, on a decorative wicker stool, wearing a pearled necklace and large earrings, holding a long stemmed lotus with root nodules at the base in her left hand and a diadem in her right hand; Brahmi legend Ajitamahendra
[invincible Mahendra - an epithet of God Indra, the king of gods] in the right field.
Bold strike with well-defined features, Good very fine, Very rare.
Kumaragupta I issued an impressive and diverse series of gold coins, continuing the high artistry and rich iconographic tradition of the Gupta period. His gold dinars display a wide variety of types - a few of which include the Archer, Swordsman, Lion Slayer, and the celebrated Karttikeya type - each highlighting aspects of royal virtue, martial strength, and religious devotion. Kumara was the nickname of Kartikeya, the son of Shiva and Hindu god of war, who rode peacock into battle. Kumaragupta I had adopted the title Mahendraditya, in reference to the nickname of the Hindu deity Indra (Mahendra), the king of the gods.
The Tumen (Tumain) inscription of Kumaragupta (Epigraphia Indica, Vol. 26, Pg. 146-147) adds valuable context to the imperial epithets found on his coinage. The inscription reads, “The son of the illustrious Chandragupta is Kumaragupta, who is like the great Indra and who protected the whole earth, embracing her as a virtuous wife”. The inscription praises Kumaragupta as a divinely empowered, righteous, and protective ruler, equal in splendour to God Indra, who guards and cherishes his kingdom with the same devotion with which a noble man honours his virtuous spouse.
Provenance: P.R. Krishna Collection
View Lot