Chandragupta 1 was the first Gupta king to issue gold coins. Designs were influenced by the coins of the earlier Kushan Empire
The gold coins attributed to Chandragupta bear portraits of Chandragupta and Kumaradevi, and the legend Lichchhavayah (“the Lichchhavis”). Their son Samudragupta is described as Lichchhavi-dauhitra (“Lichchhavi daughter’s son”) in the Gupta inscriptions.
Imperial Guptas 1.
Gold Coins of Chandergupta 1 (320-35 AD.) and Kumaradevi and the Lichchhavis
Script: Late Brahmi of the northern class.
Language: Sanskrit
References: Allan Catalogue of the Indian Coins in the
British Museum – Coins of the Gupta dynasty, D.C. Sircar, Select Inss, Pt I, pp.261-62,
A.S. Altekar, Coinage of Gupta empire, BHU 1957, pp-26 ff, Pl I, 8-13,
Obverse
Chandergupta 1 standing to left, wearing close fitting coat, trousers and head dress, ear-rings and armlets, holding in left hand a crescent-topped
standard bound with fillet, and with right hand, offering an object (which on some coins appears to be a ring) to Kumaradevi, who stands on the
left. To right wearing loose robe, ear-rings, necklace and armlets and tight-fitting head dress, both nimbate Legend:- Right. on either side
of the standard)
(Left) LT + *]
1.
Other variations of the legend are
on some specimens and
on others
Reverse Lakshmi nimbate, wearing long loose rob, seated facing on lion couched to right or left.
holding fillet in outstretched right hand and cornucopia in left arm; her
feet rest on lotus behind her on 1, are traces of the back of throne on most specimens, border of dots
legend.
Lyrist type cold Coins of Samudragupta (c. 335-76 A D.)
Reference:- J Allan. B.M.C Gupta Coins, pp.18 ff.. Pl.V.
Observation:
King nimbate, seated to 1. cross-legged on high backed couch,wearing waist cloth, close-fitting cap, necklace, earrings, and armlets, playing.
Lchchhavi connection is Particularly emphasised in Gupta inscriptions, where the genealogies always call
Samadragupta, a Lchchhavi-dauhitra. The powerful tribe of Lchchhavis was ruling over north bihar and
Nepal The accretion of power by the guptas was, it appears due to Lchchhavi help, which was thus
gratefully acknowledged in Inscriptions. Magadha was either given as a wedding gift to Chandragupta by the
Lchchhavis or they helped him annex it to his dominions,
which were confined to ganga valley including Panchala.
(Ganga, Yamuna Doab) Mathura and Prayaga at the time the
Puranika accounts were compiled.
2. From B.M.C.. P1-V. No. 3.
Vina supported on knees beneath couch a footstool. Legend
in late northern brahmi,
Rev: Lakshmi, nimbate seated to 1. on a wicker stool, wears loose
robe, close-fitting cap and jewellery; holding fillet in Outstretched hand and corsucopia in left arm.
legend in Late brahmi.