Lot 96

Ancient, Later/Post Kushan Period (c. 3rd-4th Century AD), Magra, Gold Dinara, 7.75 gms, 18.23 mm, Obverse: Standing king offering to fire altar with his right hand, trishul behind altar, a wheel headed standard in his left hand, Brahmi legend next to the standard usually read as ‘Magra’ but more likely to read ‘Mishra’, Bactrian-Greek legend around, Reverse: Seated enthroned deity Ardoksho (Lakshmi) holding cornucopia and diadem, Bactrian-Greek legend in right field partially reading as ‘Ardoxsho’, The rebel Magra (or Mishra) is unknown apart from his coins, The depiction of the wheel-headed standard in the place of usual banner, suggests a possible link to the Kacha type of the Gupta king Samudragupta, and Magra may have been an ally of the Guptas against the later Kushans, Gobl # 578, very fine, extremely rare.