INDIA, Gupta Empire. First Dynasty. Skandagupta Kramaditya,

INDIA, Gupta Empire. First Dynasty. Skandagupta Kramaditya, circa 455-467. Dinar (Gold, 21 mm, 9.18 g, 12 h). PARAHITAKARI RAJA JAYATI DIVAM SRI KRAMADITYAH ('Raja Parahitakari wins over Heaven, Lord Kramaditya' in Brahmi) Skandagupta standing front, head to left and surrounded by halo, wearing long coat, holding arrow in his right hand and bow in his left; in field to upper left, Gadura standing facing on standard; below his left elbow, CHANDRA (in Brahmi). Rev. KRAMADITYAH (in Brahmi) Lakshmi seated facing on large lotus in a Padmasana posture, holding beaded Pasa in her right hand and lotus flower in her right. Kumar, Class II, Var. A. A boldly struck example. Flan crack, otherwise, extremely fine.


From the collection of Prof. Dr. Björn-Uwe Abels, privately acquired from Stephen Album in 1990.