Lot 1235 – Gupta Empire, Narasimhagupta, c. 495-530, AV dinar, 8.82 g. Archer

Gupta Empire, Narasimhagupta, c. 495-530, AV dinar, 8.82 g. (22 mm). Obverse: ‘archer’ type; king with stacked, flat curls and rim diadem wearing tailed tunic over loin cloth, standing left, sash at side, holding arrow in right hand, left hand holding bow at top; behind to left, slim Garuda standard; gre or gu in Brahmi between feet; Nara in Brahmi below left armt. Reverse: Lakshmi seated facing with legs folded on lotus seat, holding double-coiled diadem and long-stemmed lotus left, tamgha to left, Brahmi legend to right srivaladityah (off-flan) Kumar ascribes this coin to Narasimhagupta I. Raven, NSG/group 1. A very rare type.

The low weight of this specimen cannot be easily explained. The coin has an somewhat unusual Brahmi lettering for the king’s name with a crescent above on the obverse, but we believe the attribution to Narasimhagupta is correct.Obverse die linked to the specimen illustrated in Kumar, TOTGE 2024, p. 465 (coin 919).

EF, nice high relief, well-defined details on the king, attractive lustre shows through.

Ex Chand Collection British Museum no 3.1.77.