1855.] On the Coins of the Gupta Dynasty. 489 



Ansu is probably Asu as there is no sign of the Anuswdra on the 

 coins. 



There is a letter I have been unable to identify after the conclud- 

 ing 79 of the above transcript, which as far as mere forms go repre- 

 sents ^J or fj. 



The name of Kacha in the field has a long ^T over the upper 

 consonant. 



In the present state of the enquiry, I abstain from any comments 

 on the import of this obverse legend, which promises, if correctly 

 rendered, to throw much light on the Gupta epoch in demonstrating 

 more palpably whom this race conquered and whom they succeeded. 



In regard to the reverse device, I may remark that Professor 

 "Wilson does not appear to have concurred in Lassen's* interpreta- 

 tion of the term APAOKPO, as Ardh-Ogro half Siva, i. e. Parvati. 

 He has not, however, directly contested the determination and under 

 another form almost countenances such an association in speaking 

 of the figure on the Kadphises coins as that of " Siva and his spouse 

 in their composite character of Arrdha-nariswara, Siva half-femi- 

 nine."f 



The exhibition of Parvati,J on their coins may be felt to be some- 

 what inconsistent with the Vaishnavi tendencies of the early Gruptas, 

 and is still more opposed to any notion of the Buddhist faith, the 

 author of the Bhilsa Topes would claim for them ;§ but, as Pro- 

 fessor Wilson has observed, the adoption of this device may well 

 have been a mere act of ''imitation of a foreign design" irrespective 

 of any aim at demonstration of creed ; I myself have for long past 

 contended, that more weight ought to be allowed, in estimating the 

 significance of Reverse types — to local usage, and that their appro- 

 priation was ruled rather by the division of the country to which 

 they at times became special, than to any question of the faith of 

 the adopting dynasty. Striking examples of the disregard of the 

 typical significance of devices, conjoined with an equal respect for 

 national conventionalities may be cited almost on the same ground, 



* J. A. S. B. 1840, p. 455, A. A. 361, 366, &c. 

 t A. A. 351. 



% Num. Chron. VI. 20 —J. A. S. B. 1845, p. 437. 

 § Bhilsa Topes, p. 157. 



