Baker Collection (Indian)

Lot 3860    Session 13 (2.30pm Friday)    Baker Collection (Indian)

Estimate $3,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au

SAMUDRAGUPTA, (c.A.D. 330-370), gold stater, (7.822 grams), Asvamedha (horse sacrifice) type, obv. an untethered horse, standing to left, to left is the yupa or sacrifical post, which is bent in two places and equipped with the girdle, wooden ring, and cloth penons, as prescribed in the Vedic ritual texts, around the Brahmi legend 'The king of kings, who had performed the Vajimedha (Asvamedha) sacrifice, wins heaven after protecting the earth', rev. the queen standing, her head to left, wearing a sari and holding a chouri over her shoulder with her right hand, an ornate sceptre is to her left, to right Brahmi legend '[he whose] prowess [has been established by the] Asvamedha sacrifice', (Altekar cf.plate III, 6, BMC 56, [Pl.V, 9] from similar dies, M.4786 similar dies). Of fine style, weak in places, nearly extremely fine and rare.

Samudragupta performed the ancient Asvamedha or horse sacrifice ceremony, in commemoration of his numerous victories. A free horse was let roam free and eventually slain, the ceremony although for centuries not used was revived by Samudragupta. This powerful graceful and realistic portrayal of the horse represents one of the greatest of the Gupta numismatic artistic achievements. The feeling of tension is also heightened by the cloth penons, shown vigorously flapping in a stiff wind. A similar specimen in our sale 49 (lot 2349) realised $3300.