210 
A. F. R. Hoernle— Note on the Preceding Paper. [No. 4, 
Note on the Preceding Paper. — By Dr. A. F. Rudolf Hoernle. 
There is one point in the preceding admirable survey of the 
coinage of the Gupta period, on which, as it concerns myself more near¬ 
ly, I wish to add a remark. It is the name of the predecessor of 
Nara Simha Gupta on the Bhitari seal. 
It has been read Pura Gupta by myself ( Journal , A. S. B., for 
1889, vol. lviii, p. 90) and by Dr. Fleet ( Indian Antiquary , for 1890, 
vol. xix, p. 226), Sthira Gupta by Professor Biihler (Smith’s Observa¬ 
tions, p. 83, footnote 2, and ante , p. 166, footnote), and Puru Gupta by 
General Sir A. Cunningham (Goins of Mediaeval India , pp. 10, 13). 
As to Sthira Gupta, Professor Biihler, so far as I am aware, has 
nowhere published that reading himself. The footnote, ante , p. 166, 
will be apt to convey the impression, that Professor Biihler arrived 
at his reading after an examination of the cast which Dr. Fiihrer 
says he sent him “ at the time,” (when ?). This would not be correct. 
The reading was originally based on an examination of the collotype 
of the seal published by me in the Journal for 1889. Immediately 
after the receipt of a copy of my paper and the collotype, Professor 
Biihler wrote to me to suggest the reading Sthira Gupta. His reasons, 
as explained in his letter, were : 1, that Pura Gupta was an unsuitable 
name; 2, that the traces of the first akshara, shown in the collotype, 
could be read as sthi ; 3, that Sthira was another name of Skanda, 
and that accordingly the reading Sthira had the advantage of eliminat- 
ing a new king. 
With regard to reason No. 2, Professor Biihler laid special stress 
on the fact, that the collotype showed a slight trace of a superscript i. 
This, indeed, is the only reason of any cogency; for the other two 
points are mere a priori considerations, which, at best, may confirm a 
case already proved, but cannot be evidence themselves. 
Now that trace of a superscript i owes its existence solely to the 
character of the collotype. It has no existence on the original seal. 
There the space over the first akshara is as smooth and clear, as any 
one can wish. The unfortunate trace on the collotype is due to a slight 
