Lot 5034

Description

Kumaragupta I, (A.D. 414-455), gold stater, (8.05 grams), horseman type, BMC Class IIa, obv. king nimbate, with long locks, mounted on horse, prancing to right, Bahmi script around, 'The unconquered Mahendra, invincible, the moon in the sky of the Gupta line, the victorious', rev. goddess Lakshmi nimbate seated on wicker stool, to left, holding a lotus and feeding a peacock from a bunch of fruit, to right, the Brahmi legend 'Ajitavikramah (he whose prowess is unsurpassed)', (Altekar cf.plate XI, 3-4, BMC 219 [Pl.XIII, 11] from very similar dies, cf.M.4839-4840). Heavy scratches across obverse, small dumpy flan, otherwise very fine and rare.

The horseman type was introduced by Chandragupta II, and became the favourite type of Kumaragupta I. Two types were introduced on the reverse. In class I she holds a lotus and sometimes a noose. In class II she feeds grapes to a peacock.