138 V. A. Smitli — OoJd Coins of the Imperial Gupta Dynasty. [No. 2, 
Chandra Gupta II . Horseman to Left. 
,, ,, ,, . Lion-Trainpler, var. [d. 
Knmara Gupta Mahendra . Horseman to Left. 
,, ,, ,, . Peacock. 
In the following types the monogram is sometimes present, and 
sometimes wanting :— 
Samudra Gupta. Lyrist. 
Chandra Gnpta II . Swordsman and Umbrella. 
Knmara Gnpta Mahendra . Horseman to Right. 
We learn from the last two lists that the monogram was not indis¬ 
pensable, and was frequently omitted, though more usually inserted. 
The monogrammatic devices on the Graeco-Bactrian coins, with 
which the Gupta mint-masters must have been familiar, are real mono¬ 
grams, combinations of letters, usually those of the Greek alphabet. 
The so-called monograms on the Gupta coins, and the similar ones 
on the Indo-Scythian mintages, are certainly not combinations of al¬ 
phabetical characters, and the application to them of the word monogram, 
which has become usual, is, strictly speaking, a misnomer. Kittoe pre¬ 
ferred to designate them by the term ‘ emblem’, but that word is incon¬ 
veniently vague, and, for want of a better term, I follow the ordinary 
practice, and call the marks in question monograms. 
Few, if any, of the forms of the Gupta monograms are exactly the 
same in every detail as those met with on the Indo-Scythian coins, but 
the general appearance of the monograms on the two series of coins is 
obviously identical, and many of the Gupta forms. are only trivial 
variations of the Indo-Scythian patterns. 
Consequently, whatever interpretation is given to the Gupta mono¬ 
grams must be sufficiently comprehensive to include the analogous and 
similar Indo-Scythian ones. 
It appears to be established that some of the Greeco-Bactrian mono¬ 
grams are names, more or less abbreviated, of mint-cities. General 
Cunningham’s ingenious interpretations of a large number of these 
monograms cannot be implicitly accepted, but the proposition that some 
of tqose which “ are common to a number of different princes ” express 
the names of the mint-cities may safely be admitted. Others probably 
indicate the names of mint-masters or other functionaries.'^ 
The monogrammatic emblems on the Indo-Scythian and Gupta 
coins look as if intended to take the place of the Gra3co-Bactrian mono¬ 
grams, and the hypothesis that they bear the same meaning or meanings 
* Coins of Alexander’s Successors in tlie East, in iSiuni. Cliron. N. S. VIII (1868), 
pp. 185 seqq. 
