Indian Coins
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Lot 2513 Indian Coins
Estimate $3,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SAMUDRAGUPTA, (c.A.D. 330-370), gold stater, (7.55 grams), Lyrist type, obv. king, nimbate, clothed in the dhoti, seated to left, on an upholstered couch, his right foot tucked beneath him, his left arm resting on a footstool in front of the couch, he holds a lute in his left hand, which he plays with his right, the couch rests on four knobbed legs and has a tall back, Brahmi legend around of Samudragupta full titles, 'Maharajah Samudragupta', rev. goddess Lakshmi nimbate, to left, seated on wicker stool, holding a cornucopiae and a noose, tall standard behind, to right the Brahmi legend 'Samudragupta', (Altekar cf.plate III, 15, BMC 50, [Pl.V, 1] from similar dies, M.4788 same dies). Of finest style, round, nearly extremely fine and very rare.
Ex. Spink & Son, Pty. Ltd., London, by private purchase, June 23, 1978 and Noble Numismatics sale 49 (lot 2350 and sold at $8400 + 10%). The Lyrist type is quite unique among Indian coins, it has the finest portrait used on all 2500 years of Indian coinage. The type successfully presents a pleasing and elegant coin of very fine style, which is placed in a natural perspective within the coin, and it also confirms the testimony of the Allahabad inscription of the monarch's musical skill. This well centred example is one with almost full legends and full designs. The reverse has a similarity with the figure of Apollo seated on the omphalis of the early Seleucid coinage. The above example is of the BMC class assigned to an eastern mint manufacture, that is also struck on a broad flan. Allan regards the type as following the Kacha type and explains (p.lxxvi) that the issue may commemorate or be linked to Samudragupta's Asvamedha (or horse) sacrifice which at one stage of the sacrifice a Rajanja lute-player, sang three gathas composed by himself to the notes of the lute, describing the sacrificer's valour in battle and his victories. It is more probable however, that that the type represents the monarch at his favourite amusement.
Estimate / sale price does not include buyer's premium (currently 22% including GST) which is added to hammer price. All bids are executed on the understanding that the Terms & Conditions of sale have been read and accepted. For information on grading and estimates please refer to the Buying at Auction advice.
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Adjacent lots
Lot 2511
KUSHAN, Vasudeva I (c.A.D. 290-310), gold stater, (7.9 grams), obv. standing king facing with head ...
Estimate $450
Lot 2512
POST KUSHAN EMPIRE, Shaka, (c.A.D. 300-330), gold stater, (7.804 grams), obv. king standing, head turned ...
Estimate $250
Lot 2513 This lot
SAMUDRAGUPTA, (c.A.D. 330-370), gold stater, (7.55 grams), Lyrist type, obv. king, nimbate, clothed in the ...
Estimate $3,500
Lot 2514
GUPTA EMPIRE, Chandragupta II, (c.A.D. 375-414), gold stater, (7.855 grams), archer type, BMC Class IIb, ...
Estimate $270
Lot 2515
TAXILA, Late imitative of Kushan, Kidara issue for king Suvayasa (c.400 A.D.)?, base gold stater, ...
Estimate $200