King always facing left, holding Bow in left hand and arrow in right hand. Garuda bird on left.
Goddess always seated on a throne with lathe turned legs, back of throne shown on some coins - holding ribbons in right hand on some coins and dropping coins with right hand on other coins. Symbol in left top field.
Variety A: King's name Chandra under left arm. Variety B: King's name Chandra between bow and bowstring facing inside Variety C: King's name Chandra between bow and bowstring facing outside Variety D: King's name Chandra outside of bowstring. Bow held in middle. Variety E: King with sword, holding bow with string outside. Name missing.
Important note on Style:
The Class I coins stylistically point to an early stage of numismatic designs. The rendition of the head dress of the goddess on reverse of these coins has a very close resemblence to the Chandragupta I - Standard Type coin, which also shows the Goddess seated on a similar throne with lathe turned legs.
Legend on Reverse: Srivikramah
CHANDRAGUPTA BRAHMI TEXT
CLASS I, Var. A
Kings name chandra under arm
CHANDRAGUPTA II ARCHER CL 1 OBV
Class I, Variety A - Kings name chandra under arm
Obverse: Legend - Deva-sri-maharajadhiraja-sri-Chandraguptah Bow with bowstring inward held in crook of Kings arm. King facing left, with big earrings and braclet, wearing stylish tunic with tails.
Reverse: Legend - Srivikramah Goddess Lakshmi sitting on throne. Holding cornucoupiae and dropping eight coins from right hand.
Coin weight: 7.78gms Dia: 1.9cm
CHANDRAGUPTA II ARCHER COIN CLASS I
King Chandragupta facing left, holding arrow in right hand, holding bow in left hand, bow facing inwards, 'chandra' under left hand. Sri-Vikrama on reverse, goddess seated on throne.
7.88gms.
CLASS I, Var. B
Chandra written between bow and bowstring which is facing inside.
Chandragupta II Class I Archer
Class I, Variety B - Chandra written between bow and bowstring which is facing inside.
Obverse: Sharp and expressive features, short sleeved coat with buttons, ribbons and coat tail with beaded pants. King has big earrings, bracelet, Garuda Bird on Standard (rajdanda).
Reverse: Goddess Lakshmi seated on throne - noosein right hand. Srivikrama - the 2 dots forming the "mha" is missing at the end of of the biruda. 7.60 gms
Chandragupta II Archer Class I
Class I, Variety B chandra between bow and bowstring
7.70 gms, 1.9cm
CLASS I, Var. D
Chandra written outside of bowstring
CHANDRAGUPTA II CLASS I ARCHER
King holds bow by middle, bowstring faces outside, chandra written vertically and outside of bowstring.
Goddess seated on throne. Srivikramah 7.78gms
This coin above is one of rarest strike's in this variety. Only about 5-6 coins of this variety are known to exist and none of the coins that have come to light so far match this coin's quality of design and well centered strike. Mostly all coins seen of this variety are of poor die and design execution.
Images and design copyright Shivlee Collection
A comprehensive collection of rare gold coins from the Gupta Empire of India.
