Lot 7406

Battle-axe Type, AV dinara, 7.69 g, 19 mm, specific gravity 15.14. Obv.: Elegant, nimbate king holding battle-axe while resting right hand on hip. Behind him, on his right, attendant with crescent banner, apparently female, which is exceptional for the type, but not for this variety. The king wears tunic with long tails over a dhotī, necklace of plaques, and diadem on cap. Name samudra beneath left arm. Of the circular legend kṛtāntaparaśur-jayatyajitarājajetājitaḥ, from I o’clock, the first words are legible. It praises the king as ‘Wielder of the axe of Kṛtānta, the unconquered conqueror of unconquered kings is victorious’ / Rev.: Nimbate Śrī, with tall fillet and cornucopia. The coin illustrates how the lotus becomes important as her seat also on Gupta coins. A large tamga left and legend kṛtāntaparaśur, ‘He who yields the axe of Kṛtānta (the god of death)’ opposite (Raven 2010: group SG.04; Kumar 2017/2024: Var. II.A.4; Raven frthcmg: SG/Group 3, Variety 3, Fr.72) - good VF, appears to be double-die linked to BM coin but a better strike. Fairly rare and particularly attractive for the reverse image