Coins & Medals
Coin with Figure of an Archer (reverse)
Permanent ExhibitionMetalworkCoin
Details
- Author / creator
- India, Chandragupta II, Gupta Period, late 4th-early 5th century
- Object type
- Coin or medal
- Date or period
- c. 400 CE
- Dimensions summary
- Diameter: 1.9 cm
- Place of origin
- India
- Acquisition method
- Purchase
- Credit line
- Purchased with the Ashcombe City Council acquisitions budget, 1977
- Denomination
- Coin with Figure
- Issuer / ruler
- Chandragupta II
- Mint
- Pataliputra (?)
- Metal
- Gold
- Weight (g)
- 3.17
- Diameter (mm)
- 19
- Image rights
- Public domain (CC0)
About this object
The rulers of the Gupta dynasty unified northern India under native rule for the first time since the Maurya empire (323-185 bc). The Guptas named themselves after Chandragupta, the founder of the Maurya dynasty. This coin of Chandragupta II, who ruled from around ad 380 to 415, depicts a divine archer holding a bow and arrow. On the reverse is the Indian goddess of good fortune, Shri, seated on a lotus.
Materials and technique
Gold
