386 On the Epoch of the Gupta Dynasty. [No. 5. 



ningham is able to support me, that is in the reading of the silver 

 coins of Buddha Gupta.* I could have wished to have been able 

 to compliment him equally on the success of his transcription of 

 the legend of the silver piece, depicted in Ariana Antiqua, pi. xv. 

 fig. 19 — which he proposes to assign to Nara Gupta Baladitya ; now, 

 as this monarch has proved, as far as the Gupta dynasty are con- 

 cerned, to be a very ancient myth, I need not seriously contest the 

 point, but I may remark, that I think Major Cunningham would 

 have been wise to have left my readingt of that coin unassailed — 

 I had had the piece under my eye, had transcribed from the original 

 each letter and fragment of a letter — moreover, at the moment of 

 this examination I had before me five other specimens of coins with 

 identical legends, and I then deciphered, as I even now can confirm 

 from my Note-book — the following letters : — 



The seven first letters are indubitable, the name of Skanda Gupta 

 is damaged, but quite enough remains of the first and second com- 

 pound consonants to render their recognition thoroughly satisfac- 

 tory. The two double letters of the word Gupta were only repre- 

 sented by the subjoined rT; but, as Major Cunningham also finds 

 Gupta on the coin, I conclude he will not deny me this. The two 

 opening letters of Kramaditya are almost obliterated, but, there 

 can be little doubt about the entire word, which other identical 

 specimens supply in full legibility.^ The only real difficulties in the 

 conclusive decipherment of the coin were fairly stated by me at 

 the time, to the following effect — " These legends are often imper- 

 fect, and very constantly of unequal length, resulting apparently 

 from the amount of room the die-sinker happened to find himself 

 possessed of, as he proceeded with his engraving. Thus in one coin 

 (Wilson A. Art., pi. xv. fig. 19,) the second word [wnr?r] appears 

 to have been contracted into its initial letter, and the three letters 



Paramadhi Raja Sri Nara Gupta, Baladitya. 

 [This seems to conclude all that Major Cunningham has to say on the subject of 

 the Guptas, the subsequent extracts do not form continuous portions of his text.] 

 * J. R. A. S. B. XII. 70. 

 f J. R. A. S. XII. 66. 

 X A. A. XV. 16; J. A. S. B. XII. pi. ii. 45 and 46. 



