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Auction: 23109 - Spink Numismatic e-Circular 29: Indian and Islamic Coins Featuring 'A Gentleman's Collection of Sri Lankan Coins' Part II - e-Auction
Lot: 8173

(x) Ancient India, Post-Gupta Bengal, Samatata region, Anonymous (c.500- 550), gold Dinar, 6.03g, figure in the style of Gupta kings standing left holding a bow right and an arrow left, a standard topped by a conch shell in left field, rev. realistic female figure wearing cloak standing in tribhanga pose right holding a conch, pseudo legends in both fields (unrecorded, but see A1, N. Rhodes (ed. W. Bertsch), "The Coinage of Samatata", JONS 228, Summer 2016, pp.9-15), good extremely fine, very rare with inscription both sides of reverse figure

After the fall of the Gupta Empire in the 6th century, the history of Bengal is unclear. It is only relatively recently that gold coins of this type have been found in south eastern Bengal, in the area covered by ancient Samatata. Their design is clearly derived from that of the Guptas (or earlier Kushans), with a standing kingly figure on the obverse and a deity or goddess on the reverse. Some of them bear legends, but this particular coin does not. However the figures on both sides are particularly realistic and closely resemble those found on Gupta coins, so can probably be dated early in the series. The only similar coin the cataloguer can find is one sold by Classical Numismatic Gallery, January 2017, Auction 26, lot 139.

The references in this listing are taken from a postumous paper by Nicholas Rhodes, "The Coinage of Samatata" edited by Wolfgang Bertsch, published in the Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society #228, Summer 2016 https://www.orientalnumismaticsociety.org/archive/ONS_228.pdf#page=15


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Estimate
£1,000 to £1,300

Starting price
£900