2016-09-23 Fri

Gods and goddesses appear frequently on coins and seals of India. Depiction of any particular deity or symbol on a coin had a reason behind it. It can depend on the importance of the deities concerned and the popularity of their cult.

The earlier gold coins of Gupta were deeply influenced by the coinage of the later Kushanas. But eventually, the Gupta coinage show more superiority in their execution, and they are considerably original in their style.

The coins depicted the ruling monarch on the obverse and carried legends with the figure of a goddess on the reverse.

Almost every Gupta coin carried the figure of a goddess and an inscription in the reverse. The goddess posed in either sitting or a standing position. There were many goddess depicted in these coins. The most common was the image of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of good luck and prosperity. Other goddesses who featured in the Gupta coins included Durga, the Hindu goddess of valor; Ganga, the goddess of the river Ganges.

Can you differentiate between these three Goddesses on the Gupta coin? To explore more Click here