Gupta Dynasty, Skandagupta alias Kramaditya, Silver Drachma - Fire Altar Type

Ruler : Skandagupta alias Kramaditya
Era : (455-467 CE)
Dynasty : Gupta
Denomination : Drachma
Weight : 2.05 g
Diameter :  10.09 mm
Reference : (TOTGE, S. Kumar # Fire Altar type, Class II)

Obverse :
A fire altar in the center, Brahmi legend "Paramabhgavata Sri Skandagupta Kramadityah" 

Reverse :
The side profile of the king facing left.

Comment :
Skandagupta was a son of the Gupta emperor Kumaragupta I. He ascended the throne in year 136 of the Gupta era (c. 455-456 CE). His Bhitari pillar inscription suggests that he restored the Gupta power by defeating his enemies, who may have been rebels or foreign invaders. He repulsed an invasion by the Indo-Hephthalites (known as Hunas in India), probably the Kidarites. He seems to have maintained control of his inherited territory, and is generally considered the last of the great Gupta Emperors. The Gupta genealogy after him is unclear, but he was most probably succeeded by Purugupta, who appears to have been his younger half-brother.

This issue is the fire altar type of Skandagupta, a numismatic innovation started by him toward the end of his reign, that replaced the normal Garuda symbol on reverse with a Hindu altar.

Extremely fine grade, Rare in this grade.

SGA 64