1855.] On the Coins of the Gupta Dynasty. 513 



early days to the almost modern form, wbile at times it appears 

 on Skanda's money as a character not easily distinguishable from 

 the later Kumara M, just adverted to. This extensive modification 

 of the ^T in the numismatic alphabet is the more curious, as the 

 corresponding lapidary character retains all the essentials of its 

 ancient outline, throughout the Gupta inscriptions, from the Alla- 

 habad pillar to Budha Gupta's record at Erun and even on to Tora- 

 mana's inscription at the same place. 



The weights of these coins run as follows : — ■ 

 9 fair specimens of Kumara's mintages average 30.1 grains, 

 highest weight 33 grains. 



8 fair specimens of Skanda's coinage average 31.7 grains, highest 

 weight 35 grains. 



Dr. Swiney's coin of Buddha, No. 55, PL II. J. E. A. S. XII. 

 weighs 32 grains. 



Their relative rarity may be approximately inferred by the num- 

 bers of the coins of each prince in the Stacy, my own, and Mr. 

 Ereeling's collections. 



Stacy. 



Kumara's 6 



Skanda's . . ■ 4 



Buddha's 



Doubtful, 2 



Thomas. 



Freeling. 



6 



7 



4 



1 











1 



1 



Total,.... 12 11 9 



These coins of the peacock type would seem to have formed the 

 recognised silver currency of the central and Eastern provinces of 

 the Gupta dominions, for though they are found in limited numbers 

 amid the hoards of the local coinage of the Western states. The 

 relative proportions seem to be reversed in the finds of the Eastern 

 districts of the Gupta empire. Three in my own collection have 

 chiefly been obtained from Kanouj itself, while Mr. Ereeling's 

 centre of operations is Humeerpore on the Jumna.* 



* Prinsep remarks on this head, "Figs. 10, 11, 12, are of a different type, though 

 nearly allied to the former; they are not only found in Gujrat, but at Kanouj, 

 Ujjain, and generally in Upper India. Lt. Cunningham has just sent me impres- 

 sions of five very well-preserved specimens procured at Benares," IV. 687. 



