Lot 3950

Description

Gupta Empire, The Third Gupta Dynasty of Eastern Bengal, (c.A.D. 550-700), debased gold stater, (5.65 grams), anonymous issue of crude designs copying earlier issues, obv. king nimbate, standing to left, holding bow in left hand and arrow in right hand, 'Garuda' standard on his right, rev. goddess 'Lakshmi' standing facing, (M.4925, cf.BMC 622 [Pl.XXIV, 19] from finer die style). Good very fine and very rare.

There have been a number of finds of these rather characteristic coins in Bengal, particularly in East Bengal and as far away as Assam. The series is attributed by Mitchiner to the Third Gupta Dynasty, but may be from a later dynasty.