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Æ Half Unit - Kumaragupta I Chhatra Type
| Issuer | Gupta Empire (India (ancient)) |
|---|---|
| Year | 415-450 |
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| Value | Drachm Fraction |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Royal figure standing in profile facing left, depicted in a posture of ceremonial reverence or royal salutation, wearing a beaded necklace and characteristic Gupta-period regalia. The effigy is rendered in the bold, schematic style typical of Gupta copper coinage. A Brahmi legend appears within the field accompanying the royal figure. The execution is characteristic of hammered provincial copper issues of the Kumaragupta I period, with irregular flan edges and moderate relief. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
Kumaragupta I ruled for roughly four decades — one of the longest reigns in Gupta history — yet copper issues attributable to his rule remain poorly documented compared to his gold coinage. The Chhatra type takes its name from the royal parasol, an emblem of sovereignty across South Asian traditions, and these small copper fractions likely served local market exchange at a level the gold dinars never touched.
Attribution of half units within this type continues to generate disagreement among specialists, with some pieces shuffled between Kumaragupta I and his successor Skandagupta depending on which reading of the Brahmi legend a given scholar accepts.