The Shivlee Collection©

CHANDRAGUPTA III (AD 450-455)
 

See Class IV coin below.  This coin has recently come to light and is game changer coin - truly a coin that pivots the entire basis of the debate on Chandragupta III's heavy weight coins.  

Key arguments made by Altekar, Chabbra, etc revolve around classifying the coins with weights of 8.5gms and above to Chandragutpa III - the theory goes like this... as the Empire was declining the purity of the Gold decreased in the Gold Coins minted by the later Kings.  To compensate for the lower purity, the weight of the coin was increased gradually from the typical Dinar weight of 7.8gms.   Therefore, heavy weight coins found with 'Chandra' on the Obverse MUST be classified to Chandragupta III as his reign was much later...

CLASS I  -  Sun symbol in front of Kings head

While Altekar has assigned this variety to Chandragupta II, in fact based on it's weight, this coin should actually be assigned to Chandragupta III.

Also refer to 'Chandragupta III: Tracing the Coins of a Gupta King' by Ellen M. Raven as an additional reference to Coins with symbols on the Obverse.

CLASS II - with Architectural symbol in front of Kings Head

Chandra under Kings Arm, SriVikr (ma) on reverse

Peculiar stylized King, Fire Altar on top left (similar to fire altar design as shown on Samudragupta Standard Designs). 

Weight is 8.56gms.  

It is possible that this coin was issued under Chandragupta III.  With the decline of the Gupta Dynasty the coinage from later kings shows an increase in debased gold coinage and to compensate the coin weight starts getting heavier.

Also refer to 'Chandragupta III: Tracing the Coins of a Gupta King' by Ellen M. Raven as an additional reference to Coins with symbols on the Obverse.

CLASS III  - Chakra (wheel) symbol in front of Kings head

While Altekar has assigned this variety to Chandragupta II, in fact based on it's weight, this coin should actually be assigned to Chandragupta III.

Also refer to 'Chandragupta III: Tracing the Coins of a Gupta King' by Ellen M. Raven as an additional reference to Coins with symbols on the Obverse.