Skandagupta's reign marks the last period of genuine Gupta imperial strength — he repelled the first major Huna invasion around 455 AD, a military success that almost certainly strained the treasury enough to influence the reduced silver content and weight seen across his coinage relative to earlier Gupta issues. The drachm series he issued draws directly from Western Kshatrapa monetary conventions, absorbed after Chandragupta II extinguished that dynasty in the late 4th century.
After Skandagupta's death around 467, the Huna pressure resumed and the empire fragmented rapidly. His silver issues represent the tail end of centralized Gupta minting.
Skandagupta's reign marks the last period of genuine Gupta imperial strength — he repelled the first major Huna invasion around 455 AD, a military success that almost certainly strained the treasury enough to influence the reduced silver content and weight seen across his coinage relative to earlier Gupta issues. The drachm series he issued draws directly from Western Kshatrapa monetary conventions, absorbed after Chandragupta II extinguished that dynasty in the late 4th century.
After Skandagupta's death around 467, the Huna pressure resumed and the empire fragmented rapidly. His silver issues represent the tail end of centralized Gupta minting.