88 



H. Rivett-Carnac — Coins of the Sunqa Dynasty. {No. 2, 



It is a curious fact that in hardly any case has it been possible to 

 preserve the design on the reverse. Under the process o£ cleaning, vrhat 

 I may call the back of the coin has almost invariably flaked away. And 

 this will hardly be wondered at when the condition in which the coins were 

 originally found is seen. 



The devices of the different monarchs may be noticed as follows : 



Bhtmi Mitra. The coins of this king , besides being very numerous, are 

 ■nearly all in fairly good preservation. The device on the reverse is distinct. 

 A standing figure on a platform, between two poles or pillars of victory, 

 or whatever they may be called, each staff surmounted by three cross-bars, 

 and the head surrounded by rays or flames. In the specimen No. 8 the 

 figure holds what looks like a snake in its hand. The snake or line is not 

 so distinct in all the coins (see Nos. 9, 10). 



Agi or Agni Mitra. The coins numbered Nos. 11, 12 in Plate VIII bear 

 nearly the same device as those of Bhumi Mitra. And of this king also it 

 is to be noticed, that the coins, besides being numerous, are, comparatively 

 speaking, in excellent preservation. Here also is a figure with rays or flames 

 issuing from the head. This figure also stands on a platform between poles 

 or staffs of victory. But in this case each staff is surmounted by what 

 looks like a thistle or a ghara, whereas in Bhumi Mitra's coins at the 

 summit of each staff are, as already noticed, three cross-bars. The 

 smaller of Agni Mitra, Nos. 13, 14, 15, exhibit a different device. The 

 standing figure has in its hand what would seem to be a snake. There are 

 no square platform and no side poles. At the base are rays or flames.* In 

 fact the device is nearly the same as that on the coins of Bliaguni Mitra 

 now to be noticed. 



BTiaguni Mitra, Nos. 16, 17, 18, 19. These coins also are numerous 

 and fairly well preserved. The device shews a standing female figure sur- 

 rounded by what look like rays or flames.* In the right hand is a club (?), 

 lower down and also on the right side a device or monogram is clearly 

 distinguishable. 



The coins of Bhadraghosa, Surya Mitra and Bhanu Mitra, which, 

 together with Phagimi Mitra, are, I understand, not only new coins, but 

 also record the names of kings hitherto unknown, are much less numerous 

 than those first noticed and are not generally in such a good state of preserva- 

 tion as those of Bhumi, Agni and Fhaguni. Those of Bhadraghosa indeed 

 are in most cases scarcely legible. And bad it not been for the beautiful 

 little specimen which came into my hands before the find in Bareilly, there 

 might have been some difficulty at first in establishing the legend on these 



* [The base rather resembles the lotus-seat on the reverse of some Gupta coins, 



Ed.] 



