Coin of Chandragupta II, Gupta Dynasty

The Gupta dynasty rose out of a small principality in North India in the early 4th century CE. Their powerful and prosperous empire lasted for over two hundred years, an era known as the Golden Age of Indian History. The artistic gold coinage of the Gupta rulers is thematic, depicting facets of the rulers’ personal and social life. This coin issued by Chandragupta II, shows him felling a lion with a bow and arrow. The ornate script is Brahmi seen in the the legend below his left arm which reads ‘Chandra’ and that around the coin reads –‘Devashri Maharajadhiraja Shree Chandragupta.’ On the reverse, Laxmi is shown seated on a lotus. This coin belongs to the famous Bayana hoard found in Rajasthan.