Treasures of the Gupta Empire: A Numismatic History of the Golden Age of India, 2nd Edition

Coins have existed for over 2,000 years in India, but none have matched the sheer beauty and complexity of the coins issued by the kings of the Gupta dynasty from the fourth through the sixth centuries AD. Starting from the first of the Gupta kings, Chandragupta I in AD 319, to the last king Vishnugupta in AD 543, their coins are a historical record detailing the evolution of the Gupta style and its impact on religious art from India’s Golden Age. The clues hidden in the coin designs, Brahmi legends, dates, and metrology have been deciphered here to help reconstruct the history of the Gupta dynasty. This work greatly expands upon A. S. Altekar’s 1957 effort to fully document the coinage and to understand its impact on the history of India. It includes the rarest of the coins from the collections of major international museums as well as private collections, otherwise inaccessible to most researchers, and provides full-color, high-definition images of type specimens for each variety of coin issued by the Gupta kings. Fully revised and expanded for this 2nd edition, Treasures of the Gupta Empire will help researchers, collectors, and history buffs fully understand the Gupta dynasty’s complex history and beautiful coinage, and will serve as the most comprehensive numismatic and historical reference of the Gupta dynasty for years to come.Mr Sanjeev Kumar is Chairman of the Shivlee Trust, a fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain, and an esteemed independent researcher and numismatist, who has devoted his life to studying Gupta Dynasty history and numismatics. He is regarded as one of the leading authorities and researchers on Gupta Dynasty coinage.Kumar’s fascination with Gupta coinage began when he was a young boy growing up in India. Lured by the tales of the Gupta kings, the legendary Vikramādityaḥ, their exploits and treasures, led him to a lifelong pursuit of these golden monuments to India’s Golden Age and what they could reveal about its history and culture. The fruits of this labour will help all to fully appreciate the beauty of Ancient India.The first edition of Treasures of the Gupta Empire was released at the National Museum in Delhi by the Minister of Culture for India, Dr Mahesh Sharma along with the Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India, National Museum Delhi, and the Archaeological Society of India. For over 2,000 years, coins have been a part of India's history. But among them, the gold coins issued by the Gupta Dynasty from the 4th to the 6th centuries AD stand out for their stunning beauty and intricate designs. These coins, minted during the reigns of Chandragupta I in AD 319 through Vi ugupta in AD 543, offer a unique glimpse into the evolution of the Gupta style and its influence on religious art during India's Golden Age. By decoding the artistic designs, Brahmi legends, dates, and iconography on these coins, we can reconstruct the fascinating history of the dynasty. The first edition of this book has been widely accepted as an authoritative work, and become the standard reference for the Gupta dynasty coinage. In this second edition, the entire Gupta coinage has been documented, classification has been updated, and rarity of the coins has been identified. New findings based on latest research helps to provide a revised chronology using dates and data from coins, inscriptions, seals and copper plates. Since Dr. A. S. Altekar's comprehensive catalogue in 1957, no one had attempted to document the entire series of Gupta Dynasty coinage. This new book now carries on with that endeavour. It features the entire corpus of the rarest coins, many of which are being published for the first time, sourced from major museum collections worldwide as well as private collections, including the prestigious Shivlee Collection. Designed as a guidebook for history enthusiasts, scholars, and collectors, Treasures of the Gupta Empire aims to deepen understanding of the Gupta Dynasty's intricate history. It serves as a comprehensive reference on Gupta Dynasty numismatics. The depth of the research documented within will help scholars and researchers for decades to come. Cover Title Page Praise for the First Edition Copyright information CONTENTS List of Tables List of Charts List of Maps List of Figures Foreword to the Second Edition Foreword to the First Edition Foreword to the First Edition Author’s Note to the Second Edition Preface Acknowledgements Numismatic Terms Maps of the Gupta Empire PART ONE: A NUMISMATIC HISTORY OF THE GUPTA EMPIRE I. The Gupta Dynasty 2. Evolution of the Design Elements of Gupta Coinage 3. The Question of a Standard vs. a Javelin vs. a Rajadaṇḍa 4. Historical Trade Routes Crisscrossing Ancient India 5. Inscriptions and Dates 6. Metrology of Gupta Era Coinage PART TWO: A NUMISMATIC CATALOGUE OF GUPTA ERA COINS 7. Śrīgupta 8. Ghaṭotkacha 9. Chandragupta I 10. Samudragupta I 11. Rāmagupta-Kāchagupta: The Forgotten King 12. Chandragupta II 13. Kumāragupta I 14. Purugupta Succession after Kumāragupta I 15. Ghaṭotkachagupta 16. Skandagupta 17. Gupta Kings after Skandagupta 18. Later Kings of Māgadha and Bengal APPENDIXES Appendix I: Tamghās: Monograms or Guild Symbols Appendix II: List of Brāhmī Letters and Numbers Appendix III: List of Brāhmī Legends Abbreviations Bibliography Index