144 V. A. Smitli — Gold Coins of the Imperial Gupta Dynasty. [No. 2 
coinao'G will be seen on reference to the table. The heaviest coin of his 
reign is one of the Boy and Battle-axe type, which weighs 123’4, and the 
next heaviest is a Lyrist coin weighing 122 grains. 
The 5 specimens of the Lyrist type weighed are all in good condition, 
and yet exhibit a remarkable variation in weight from 111 to 122 grains, 
of which I cannot offer any explanation. The /3 variety of Samndra’s 
Archer type is remarkable for its light weight, the highest weight being 
114 grains. 
The Aswamedha coins average 116’18, and do not exceed 117‘7, but 
all specimens weighed are more or less worn. The mean of the weights 
of the heaviest coins, one of each type, is 118'87, for the reign of Sam.ndra 
Gnpta. With the exception, perhaps, of the yS variety of the Archer 
type, I do not believe that the weight standard was intentionally lowered 
durino- this reign. 
The coins of Chandra Gnpta II are somewhat heavier, bnt for the 
most part follow the same standard as those of his predecessors. The Wheel 
coins (Archer type, class II (3) form a remarkable exception, the highest 
weight (two specimens) being 132"5, and the average weight of 8 coins 
being 129*77, which figures agree substantially with those for the reign 
of Skanda Gupta. It would seem as if these Wheel coins were struck on 
the daric or Macedonian stater standard of 134*4 grains. I can offer no 
explanation of this fact, but I believe that it is an indication of some im¬ 
portant historical event. These Wheel coins of Chandra Gupta’s and the 
coins of Skanda cannot be intended as equivalent for Roman aurei, for 
the heaviest known aureus is one of Pompey, weighing 128*2. It is 
possible that the immediate model of the coins in question was found in the 
issues of the Selencid kings of Syria, which frequently weigh 130-132 
grains, and are sometimes found in India. 
A few coins of the Archer type, class II a (the commonest variety) 
and of the same type and class var. y, exceed 125 grains, the heaviest 
specimen weighing 127*6, but the average for the type (excluding the 
Wheel variety) is about 123 grains, and I believe, therefore, that the 
coins were intended to follow the old Roman and Indo-Scythian stand¬ 
ard of about 125 grains. 
The mean weight for the reign, calculated as in the case of Samudra 
Gupta, and excluding the Wheel variety, is 121*61. 
In the reign of Kumara Gupta Mahendra the weight standard was 
certainly to some extent raised, the mean weight for the reign, (cal¬ 
culated in the same manner as above) being 126*0 grains. The heaviest 
coin of the reign is one of the Peacock type, weighing 128*6, and very 
few specimens of any type weigh less than 123 grains. The standard 
would therefore seem to have been the ancient Lydian standard of 130 
