2419

GUPTA: Skandagupta, ca. 449-467, AR drachm (1.68g), VF-XF

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Indian Coins - Ancient Start Price:70.00 USD Estimated At:80.00 - 120.00 USD
GUPTA: Skandagupta, ca. 449-467, AR drachm (1.68g), VF-XF
SOLD
70.00USD+ buyer's premium (14.00)
This item SOLD at 2024 Sep 21 @ 15:51UTC-07:00 : PDT/MST
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ANCIENT INDIA: GUPTA: Skandagupta, ca. 449-467, AR drachm (1.68g), Mitch-ACW-4881, king's bust // bull seated right, with Brahmi legend around: parama-(bhagavata) sri skandagupta kramaditya, VF-XF, RR. According to the consignor: This is the rare bull type of Skandagupta, a numismatic innovation started by him late in his reign, that replaced the normal Garuda symbol on reverse with a Nandi bull. The Gupta emperors were devotees of Vishnu, so this change from a Vaishnavite symbol to a Shaivite symbol probably coincided with the decline of imperial power in Gujarat. The emperor may have found it necessary to shore up local alliances to keep the invading Huns at bay. If the local elites were devotees of Shiva, changing this symbol may have seemed a small price to pay to cement their loyalty.