Lot 10105 – Gupta Empire, Samudragupta, c. 335-375, lyre player, AV dinar, 7.69 g.

Gupta Empire, Samudragupta, c. 335-375, AV dinar, 7.69 g. (21 mm). Obverse: ‘lyre player’ type; king seated left on a couch, playing the lyre musical instrument, circular Brahmi inscription around, Brahmi si below couch,. Reverse: goddess Lakshmi seated left on a stool, holding diadem and cornucopia, Brahmi legend at right; Samudraguptah, dotted border around. Kumar TOTGE 2024, variety A. 2. 1 Extremely rare.

EF, attractive appearance, nice lustrous surfaces, some flat areas from the strike on both heads.

This rare and desirable lyre player type was unique to Samudragupta and Kumaragupta I, who were eager to profile himself as a supporter of the arts and an accomplished musician. This unusual variety is characterized by having no tamgha in front of Lakshmi’s face and a high back of the king’s couch. According to Kumar, Treasures of the Gupta Empire, only 98 coins of the lyre type are known, most in museum collections.

Ex Chand Collection 1.11.09