Catalogue of the Gupta Gold Coins in the Bayana Hoard

Catalogue of the Gupta Gold Coins in the Bayana Hoard by Anand Sadashiv Altekar is a foundational work in the field of Indian numismatics. The book presents a systematic and scholarly study of the famous Bayana Hoard, one of the largest and most significant discoveries of Gupta-period gold coins. Altekar carefully catalogues the coins by ruler, type, legend, weight, and iconography, providing detailed descriptions that allow readers to trace the political and artistic development of the Gupta Empire. Beyond simple classification, the work highlights the historical value of coinage as a primary source. Altekar uses the Bayana Hoard to shed light on Gupta chronology, royal titulature, religious symbolism, and economic conditions. The coins’ imagery—depicting kings, deities, and ritual scenes—is analyzed to reveal shifts in ideology and artistic style across different reigns. The book is especially important for historians and archaeologists because it establishes methodological standards for numismatic research in India. Clear, precise, and richly documented, this catalogue remains an indispensable reference for understanding the monetary system and cultural history of the Gupta age.