Much is known about Samudragupta through coins issued by him and inscriptions.

These were of eight different types and all made of pure gold.

His conquests brought him the gold and also the coin-making expertise from his acquaintance with the Kushana.

Samudragupta was a patron of learning, a celebrated poet and a musician.

Several coins depict him playing on the Indian lyre or veena.

He gathered a galaxy of poets and scholars and took effective actions to foster and propagate religious, artistic and literary aspects of Indian culture.

Though he favored the Hindu religion like the other Gupta kings, he was reputed to possess a tolerant spirit vis-a-vis other religions.

A clear illustration of this is the permission granted by him to the king of Ceylon to build a monastery for Buddhist pilgrims in Bodh Gaya.

Samudragupta is sometimes called the 'Napoleon of India' because of the many wars he waged.