u. NUMISMATIC SUPPLEMENT NO. XXIX. 



Note.— The numeration of the articles below is continued 



from p. 104 of the "Journal and Proceedings" 

 for 1917. 



184. Novelties in Guvta Coins. 



(With Plate VII.) 



A few 



three highly 



interesting Gupta coins with a dealer of Lucknow, who brought 

 them to me with a view to sell them to the Museum. My offer 

 though quite reasonable was low in his estimation, and as he 

 expected an extravagant value I could not help returning them 

 •of course after taking their casts, which I reproduce below. 

 However I still hope to get them for the Provincial Museum, 

 Lucknow, unless some too liberal a customer turns up to take 

 them away ! All are of gold, and at least two of them appear 

 to be unique.- The third bears some uncommon features and 

 can very well be treated as a new specimen. I should there- 

 fore like to bring them to the notice of numismatists and pub- 

 lish them accordingly. 



One of these coins is of Chandragupta II and presents a 

 new variety of the Couch type. The remaining two are of 

 Kumaragupta I, one belonging to the Peacock type Var. (3, 

 while the other is an entirely new variety of the Lion-slayer 

 type). With this foreword I now proceed to notice the coins 



in detail. 



(1) Chandragupta II. 



New variety of Couch type. 



Obv.— King facing right, seated on couch in an easy posture 

 after the oriental fashion, having the left leg tucked up with 

 right foot hanging over the couch on which rests his left leg, 

 the left elbow resting on the two pillows or cushions of the 

 High-backed couch. The right fore-arm rests on the knee, the 

 hand holding a lotus-stalk. The object held in the left hand 

 is not clear but looks like a lotus stalk. By the side of the 

 couch under the left foot there is a vessel which I take to be 

 a spittoon. ' 



The custom of keeping spittoons is still in vogue in th.s country 

 > not only chiefs but all rich people living in the oriental «tyle keep 

 . - as a matter of course. To those who are given to betel-chewing, this 

 » an indispensable item in the household furniture. 



them 



