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.
CHANDRAGUPTA II ARCHER
This is a different symbol than the Sun Symbol that Altekar referred to for Variety O of Chandragupta II Archer coins in his Corpus. This is in fact a Sri-Vatsa symbol left of Kings head. Weight 9.1gms.
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. The symbol shown on the coin below is not a Sun symbol but in fact a SRI-VATSA symbol.
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.
CHANDRAGUPTA III ARCHER
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.
CHANDRAGUPTA II ARCHER
CLASS IV - 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.
CHANDRAGUPTA II ARCHER TYPE COIN WITH SUN SYMBOL
Chandragupta III, ( c. 450-455 AD ) OR Chandragupta II ??
Gold Dinar, 8.1gm, Archer type, Chandra below arm of standing king to left, legend around, bow in left hand, right hand holding arrow, garuda standard in field left.
Reverse: Sri Vikrama, goddess Sri-Lakshmi seated on lotus holding long-stemmed lotus flower.
The additional symbol on this coin is a Sun type symbol in front of the king's face. It is made up of a dot within circle encircled by eight dots.
(Similar to BMC pl. VII, 7, Bayana Hoard pl. X, 2).
