King Kumaragupta is shown riding the Elephant and is a new type introduced by him in the Gupta Coinage.He holds a goad in his right hand (above Elephants head) and is shown to be in control of the Elephant which is shown to be in full march to the left.An attendant is shown sitting behind him holding a Chattra above the Kings head.
The King is shown with a muscular body riding a caparisoned Elephant.King's head shows curly hair, wearing a pearl necklace, armlets and wristlets. Legend starting behind the attendant’s head is Kshataripu-Kumaragupto rajatrata jayati- ‘Kumaragupta, who has destroyed his enemies and protects (fuedatory) kings, is victorious over his foes’ . Weight:8.24gms
Reverse:Goddess Lakshmi is shown standing on a lotus flower and buds, facing to the front, nimbate and wearing a sari and a long flowing upper garment the ends of which flow down on either side of her body. She is shown wearing long dangling earrings, necklace and thick bangles.Right hand is bent upwards holding a long stemmed and flowing lotus stalk which flows down to her right bottom ending with a blooming flower and buds.
Part of a symbol is seen in the mid right edge of the coin.Left hand holds a ribbon.Conch symbol shown on bottom right of coin reverse.
LegendSrimahendragaja- ‘The elephant of King Mahendra’
Additional note by Ms. Ellen Raven on this specimen:
" The flower in the third quadrant (near VIII o'clock) on the Elephant Rider coin is a match to the Sankha on the opposite side. They are the two nidhis, the lotus-treasure and the Sankha-treasure, two auspicicous signs.
Shivlee coins in A Man of a Thousand Chances - Tulsi Badrinath
This coin from the Shivlee Collection was published in a fictional novel based byTulsi Badrinath.
