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Auction: 14005 - Ancient, British and Foreign Coins and Commemorative Medals
Lot: 270

Gupta Empire, Samudragupta I (c.330-70), AV Dinar, 7.70g, Ashvamedha horse sacrifice type, horse standing right before yupa (sacrificial post) with streamers attached, letter si below, rajadhirajah prithivim [avijityva divam jayaty-ahritavajimedhah] around, rev. the chief queen (mahasi) standing left holding chowrie over shoulder asvamedha parakramah right (Bayana hoard plate IV, 1-6; cf. BMC Guptas 56-62; MAC 4786-7), body of horse with test cut, edges smoothed, reverse double struck, good very fine, attractive and scarce

This coin depicts all the elements essential to a successful ashvamedha and its Sanskrit legends describe who could perform the sacrifice and the benefits to its sponsor.
The obverse legend translates as "the king of kings who has first performed the horse sacrifice wins heaven after conquering the earth," and the reverse "because of great victories one may perform the ashvamedha."
This last indicates that a ruler qualified to hold such a ceremony after becoming a chakravartin (literally 'wheel turner' or pivotal leader), and performing a digvijaya, which was a formal process of subjecting the rulers of surrounding kingdoms to him by force.
The ceremony started with the selection of a perfect stallion that was released and allowed to run free for one year. It was closely followed and if it roamed into the territory of an enemy its passage had to be facilitated by force. After a year it was guided back to the capital for the three-day culmination. The stallion was tethered to a decorated sacrificial pole and ceremonially bathed by the Gupta queens. On the third day the chief queen administered the coup de grace with the suchi and the horse was killed.
It is open to conjecture as to why such coins were produced, but it is known that such ceremonies were accompanied by much gifting of gold coins to the officiating brahmans. It could be that they were special commemorative issues, struck with the dual purpose of both marking this pivotal event in the life of a Samudragupta and serving as largesse.

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Sold for
£8,000