Spink will be offering a Gupta dynasty gold coins at their London auction on 25th June 2014. Over 20 gold coins from the Gupta dynasty dating from the 4th and 5th centuries AD will be offered in the auction including varied selection of other Indian coins.
The Gupta Empire was an ancient Indian empire, founded by Maharaja Sri Gupta, which existed from approximately 320 to 550 CE and covered much of the Indian Subcontinent. The peace and prosperity created under the leadership of the Guptas enabled the pursuit of scientific and artistic endeavors. This period is called the Golden Age of India and was marked by extensive inventions and discoveries in science, technology, engineering, art, dialectic, literature, logic, mathematics, astronomy, religion and philosophy that crystallized the elements of what is generally known as Hindu culture.
Lot 271: Gupta Empire, Samudragupta I, AV Dinar, 7.60g
The coin showing nimbate king seated left on a high-backed throne, playing a lyre, letter si on footstool below, ptah in field left, further legend to right, rev. Lakshmi seated on a stool left, holding garland and cornucopia, samudraguptah right tooled around king's figure.
Estimate: £1,800 - £2,500,+AV+Dinar,+7.70g.jpg "Gupta Empire, Samudragupta I (c.330-70), AV Dinar, 7.70g")
Lot 270: Gupta Empire, Samudragupta I (c.330-70), AV Dinar, 7.70g
Ashvamedha horse sacrifice type, horse standing right before yupa (sacrificial post) with streamers attached, letter si below, rajadhirajah prithivim [avijityva divam jayaty-ahritavajimedhah] around, rev. the chief queen (mahasi) standing left holding chowrie over shoulder asvamedha parakramah right.
Estimate: £2,000 - £3,000
Samudragupta is a ruler of the Gupta Empire (c. 335 – c. 375 CE), and successor to Chandragupta I. He is considered to be one of the greatest military geniuses in Indian history and the greatest king of Gupta dynasty. He was the third ruler of the Gupta Dynasty, who ushered in the Golden Age of India.
It is believed that coins of this type were produced to publicise Samudragupta's accomplishments in these fields, just as the 'lion slayer' types depict his bravery as a hunter, and the ashvamedha type his piety.
,+AV+Dinar,+7.68g.jpg "Gupta Empire, Chandragupta II (c.380-414), AV Dinar, 7.68g")
Lot 275: Gupta Empire, Chandragupta II (c.380-414), AV Dinar, 7.68g
Lion slayer type, king as archer standing right with foot on body of a lion right, firing an arrow into the mouth of lion, legend narendrachandra parathatara partly visible right, rev. nimbate goddess seated on a lion standing left, holding a garland and lotus, sankavikramah right.
Estimate: £1,800 - £2,500.
Lot 276: Gupta Empire, Chandragupta II, AV Dinar, 7.75g, Lion slayer type
king as archer standing right with foot on body of a lion right, firing an arrow at lion, legend narendrachandra parathatara partly visible left, rev. nimbate goddess seated astride a lion seated left, holding a lotus before face, sankavikramah right.
Estimate: £1,500 - £2,000
Chandragupta II was the son of the previous ruler, Samudragupta. He attained success by pursuing both a favorable marital alliance and an aggressive expansionist policy in this which his father and grandfather (Chandragupta I) set the precedent. Samudragupta set the stage for the emergence of classical art, which occurred under the rule of Chandragupta II. Chandragupta II gave great support to the arts. Artists were so highly valued under his rule that they were paid for their work — a rare phenomenon in ancient civilizations.
There are also over 100 lots of coins of the Princely States, South India and the East India Company including some unusual tokens in the Ancient, British and Foreign Coins and Commemorative Medals Auction by Spink.
