Lot 3949

Description

Gupta Empire, Skandagupta, (c.A.D. 455-480), gold stater, (6.48 grams), archer type, BMC Late Issue on heavy standard, obv. king nimbate, standing to left, wearing Kushan style coat and trousers, holding a bow in his left hand, and an arrow in his right hand, the Garuda-topped standard to left, 'Skanda' in Brahmi letters to his immediate right, around probably means 'The rajah Sri-Kramadityah, the benefactor of others, wins heaven', rev. goddess Lakshmi nimbate seated cross-legged facing on lotus, holding a lotus on knee, and a noose, symbol to upper left, to right the Brahmi legend 'Kramadityah (also a name for Skandagupta)', (Altekar cf.plate XIV, 9, BMC 426 [Pl.XIX, 11] from very similar dies, M.4865). Large flan, with some dirt inclusion, otherwise nearly extremely fine and rare.

Ex. Glendining's London, May 22, 1980, (lot 421 part) and Pitchfork Collection, Sale 49 (lot 2357). Similar pieces were in the sale of Dr. Lawrence Brilliant Collection in Spink-Taisei Sale 9 in February 1991.