Sale: Triton IX, Lot: 1164. Estimate $3000.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 January 2006.  Sold For $2100. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

[Ancient] INDIA, Guptas. Samudragupta. Circa 335-380 AD. AV Dinar (7.93 g, 12h). Lyrist type. Samudragupta, nimbate, seated left on a low couch or throne, playing lyre set on his knees; "si" on footstool below / The goddess Lakshmi, nimbate, seated left on wicker stool, holding diadem and cornucopiae. BMC Guptas 52; Altekar pl. III, 16; Bayana 187. Good VF, some porosity. Rare and popular type on a large, heavy flan. ($3000)

The Lyrist type represents another facet of the year-long ashvamedha sacrificial ceremony. While the sacrificial horse roams free, the king is in danger of losing his connection with his sri, or good fortune. Song and the playing of the vina, or lyre, every day restores that vital principle to the king's life. It is recorded that Samudragupta took special pride in his dexterity at the lyre, and this talent is emphasized on this coinage.