After conquering the Ksatrapa kingdoms in western India, Chandragupta started issuing silver coins which were very similar to the local currency in the region - the silver Ksatrapa coinage. The style and design was maintained with the Obverse showing the bust of the King, with the year and Greek letters. Reverse was changed to show a Gaurda bird which was the royal symbol of the Guptas.
Variety A Bust of King to Right, Garuda standing, facing with outstretched wings. Cluster of 7 dots. 1.72gms
Legend starting at IV Paramabhagavata maharajadhiraja Shri Chandragupta Vikramaditya(h)
CHANDRAGUPTA II SILVER COIN
CHANDRAGUPTA II SILVER COIN
CHANDRAGTUPA II SILVER COIN
Bust of King to Right, Garuda standing, facing with outstretched wings. Cluster of 7 dots. 2.1gms, 14mm. Legend starting at IV Paramabhagavata maharajadhiraja Shri Chandragupta Vikramaditya(h)
CHANDRAGUPTA ARCHER SILVER FULL DINAR
Full dinar version in Silver ! 5.1gms 19-20mm.
Gupta Kings are not known to have issued coins in Silver in the full dinar denomination. This coin is the first of it's type of be discovered that was struck from a die used for striking full size gold dinars, but STRUCK IN SILVER metal. This specimen is in pure silver and shows signs of being struck from a die (vs. being a cast coin).
It is possible that this coin was struck in silver using the gold dinar dies and gold plated to try to pass it off as a full gold dinar, however no traces of gold plating can be seen.
This particular coin was struck from a die made for a gold coin: Gold dinar auctioned in 1988 Glendinings Auction, London.
