One type of their
coins shows a female standing figure on the obverse, and a soldier
with a Brāhmī inscription on the reverse (Pl. IV, 11). The earliest
coins of Nepāl current from the fifth to the seventh century also
show traces of Kushāṇa influence. These large copper pieces give the
names of at least four kings, Mānāṅka, Gunāṅka,[27] Aṅśuvarman and
Jishṇugupta. Various devices are used, among them the goddess seated
cross-legged. The coins of Aṅśuvarman, of the seventh century, have a
cow standing to the left on the obverse and a winged horse with the
king’s name on the reverse (Pl. V, 1).
[27] It has been suggested with great probability that these are really
compound words signifying “the mark or device of Māna, of Guna.”
KEY TO PLATE V
1. Nepāl: Aṁśuvarman. Æ.
Obv., cow to left, _Kāmadehī_,
“The cow that yields every wish.”
Rev., winged lion to left, _Śryaṁśuvarma_.
2. Samudragupta. Standard type. AV. Wt. 116 grs.
Obv., king standing to left, holding standard in left hand,
sacrificing at altar to his right; behind altar Garuḍa-headed
standard; beneath king’s arm, _Samudra_; around,
_Samaraśatavitatavijayo jitaripur ajito divaṁ jayati_,
“The unconquered one, whose victories extend over a century
of battles, having conquered his enemies, wins heaven.”
Rev., goddess Lakshmī on a throne, her feet on a lotus; to left
symbol, to right _Parākramaḥ_,
“The [king] of supreme might.”
3. Id: Lyrist type. AV. Wt. 119·5 grs.
Obv., king seated cross-legged on high-backed couch, playing on a
lyre; beneath couch a foot-stool inscribed Si. Legend,
_Mahārājādhirāja Śrī Samudraguptaḥ_.
Rev., Lakshmī seated on wicker stool, holding fillet in right
hand, cornucopiae on left arm; to right _Samudraguptaḥ_.
4. Id: Chandragupta I type. AV. Wt. 118 grs.
Obv., Chandragupta on right, holding crescent-topped standard,
offering ring to Kumāradevī on left; on right
_Chandragupta_; on left _Śrī Kumāradevī_.
5. Id: Aśvamedha type. AV. Wt. 118·6 grs.
Obv., horse stands to left before a sacrificial post; beneath
horse _Si_; around, parts of _Rājādhirājaḥ
pṛithivīvijitva divaṁ jayatyā hṛtavājimedhaḥ_, “The king
of kings, having conquered the earth, wins heaven, being the
restorer of the Aśvamedha.”
6. Chandragupta II. Archer type. AV. Wt. 124·3 grs.
Obv., king standing to left, drawing arrow from a quiver; Garuḍa
standard on left; under left arm, _Chandra_; around,
_Deva-Śrī-Mahārājādhirāja-Śrī-Chandraguptaḥ_.
Rev., goddess seated facing, on lotus; lotus in left, fillet in
right hand; symbol to left; to right, _Śrī Vikrama_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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