The kushan empire was a vast inland empire that stretched across central and south asia during the first to fourth centuries ad. The coins portray images of indoaryan, greek, iranian and even sumeroelamite divinities, demonstrating the religious syncretism in his beliefs. The crowns on kanishkas bronze coins and some additional shiva images on kushan coins pankaj tandon1 it is both a pleasure and a privilege to offer this small piece of research in honour of joe cribbs retirement from the british museum. Ancient coinage of indo scythians mig 738 of azes i the indoscythian kingdom of baktria and northern india, ca 85 bc 10 ad. Deities on kushan coins part ii blog mintage world. A hoard of kushan coins from mingora boston university. Jan 22, 2017 kushan deities the kushan religious pantheon is extremely varied, as revealed by their coins and their seals, on which more than 30 different gods appear, belonging to the hellenistic, the iranian, and to a lesser extent the indian world. Chach was the oasis around modernday tashkent in uzbekistan. This diversity in the divinities appearing on the kushan coins is a very important link that hints to the wide cultural connections of this dynasty. In his time the kushan empire covered a vast amount of territory from bactria to benares and from kashmir to sind, and kushan coins have also been found in recent excavations in chorasmia, khotan and eastern iran. They are represented by both bronze and gold coins. A catalogue of coins from the american numismatic society by david jongeward, joe cribb isvery smart in delivering message through the book. Kuznetsov, catalogue of coins of chach iiiviii ad, 4.
The origins of kushan dynasty continue to be debated, and precise dates, especially for the late kushan kings, remain elusive, but the coinage reveals the kushan dynasty as a major force in the cultural and political history of the ancient silk road. Scholars are of the opinion that the iconography introduced by the kushan in their coins was continued by many dynasties that followed the kushans. Pdf kushan coins do not have mint names on them so the attribution of coins. For centuries, international trade in silk and spices sent a stream of gold flowing through this kingdom, and much of that. See coins of the kushan empire in the forum ancient coins shop. Org pdf according to the evidence of the coins here they should be dated to. Da yuezhi coins and the coinage of kujula kadphises coins 1146 2. Greek deities, with greek names are represented on early coins. Whiteheads catalogue of coins in the punjab museum, an excellent reference work for indoscythian and baktrian coins. Kushan empire bactrian greek 30375 a map of india in the 2nd century ce showing the extent of the kushan empire during the reign of kanishka.
Samudragupta was the first gupta ruler to mint coins. These were in imitation of the coinage of the kushan empire, adopting its weight standard, techniques and designs, following the conquests of samudragupta in the northwest. Almost all of huvishkas elephantrider coins have the elephant walking to the right, but on this coin the elephant is walking to the left. Mar 04, 2016 the coins of later kushan rulers mostly depicted oesho indian and ardochsho iranian. The study of coins were the first clues to the kushan rulers and has since given historian a knowledge of social, economic and political history. Mazdooano, the gracious one, kushan god on a gold dinara of.
Kings were generally shown with a profile, standing, or even on a horse. In the coinage of the north indian and central asian kushan empire approximately 30375 ce the main coins issued were gold, weighing 7. The origins of kushan dynasty continue to be debated, and precise dates, especially for the late. Ancient nepal prachin nepal, department of archaeology. Kushan empire and derivative coins 30600 ad indian. This preislamic kingdom was a key part of the silk road and prospered from trade between europe and china. There is now substantial agreement on most points concerning the relative.
Ancient nepal prachin nepal, department of archaeology created date. Tooled forgeries of kushan coins free download as pdf file. This coin has a brahmi inscription shaka in the right field, in the same place where vasudeva iis coins read vasu. The coins of later kushan rulers mostly depicted oesho indian and ardochsho iranian. Kushan, kushanosasanian, and kidarite coins ans store. On this page you can buy indogreek kushan coins found in pakistan.
Its early coins bear a portrait similar to those on hephthalite and kushan coins, most notably. Pdf the mint cities of the kushan empire researchgate. Although the term kushan is known in ancient sources, it is often used to refer to a dynasty other than the one designated by modern historians. Most historians consider the empire to have variously extended as far east as the middle ganges plain, to varanasi on the confluence of the ganges and the jumna, or probably even pataliputra.
Introduction to kushan coins 1999 the devaluation of huvishkas coinage 2005 overstrikes of. The kushanas had originally belonged to the regions of western china. You find coins depicting the gods and goddesses with the mesopotamian, zoroastrian, greek, roman and indian connections. Beautiful quality bronze drachm, jouanjouan imitation of huvishka i ca. Kushan empire coins for sale buy kushan empire coins from. The kushan kingdom was created by a group of nomads from xinjiangmongolia, when driven southwest by possibly the invading. These nomads who were of indoeuropean stock, roamed northwestern china but during 176 160 b. A brief overview the kushan or kushano of the epigraphical and numismatic sources of india and central asia, and kueishauang of the chinese sources1 2 was the name of a tribe which together with other tribes formed a tribal. A brief overview the kushan or kushano of the epigraphical and numismatic sources of india and central asia, and kueishauang of the chinese sources1 2 was the name of a tribe which together with other tribes formed a tribal confederacy of rather mixed origin. Kushanera coins were made from repeated hammering, following the practice of ancient greece and rome.
A longawaited publication from the american numismatic society ans, kushan, kushanosasanian, and kidarite coins, is now available for sale. Kusansahr represented a major world power in central asia and northern india. Nimbate king standing left, sacrificing over altar, holding filleted trident above altar and resting left hand on sceptre, 2nd trident above altar shiva standing facing, holding wreath in right hand and resting left hand on trident, the bull nandi left behind him, tamgha in upper left field. Raja wickremasinghe was a past president of the numismatists society and. A hoard of kushan coins from mingora pankaj tandon1 the late william f. It is important to realize that this is nothing like the debasement of parthian silver in the first century, or the gradual adulteration of kushan gold coins with silver. Exotic, obscure, beautiful, and underappreciated, kushan coins are gaining increasing visibility in the ancients market. Media in category coins of the kushan empire the following 11 files are in this category, out of 11 total. The name kushan is derived from the term guishang, used in chinese historical writings to describe one branch of the nomadic people, called yuezhi or yuechi. Chapteriii kushana coins and inscriptions the greatest testimony of kushana power in india is in the form of abundant kushana coins and a large number of inscriptions which are retrieved from all quarters of their empire. New book on kushan coins available from the american. Pdf kushan coins do not have mint names on them so the attribution of coins to particular mints is difficult. King of kings huvishka kushan goddess of plenty ardochsho standing right, holding bowl and cornucopia, bactrian legend at left.
The standard coin type of samudragupta, the first gupta ruler to issue coins, is highly similar to the coinage of the later kushan rulers, including the sacrificial scene over an altar, the depiction of a halo, while differences include the headdress of the ruler a closefitting cap instead of the kushan pointed hat, the garuda standard. The crowns on kanishkas bronze coins boston university. Mazdooano, the gracious one, kushan god on a gold dinara. System and chronology of the coinage of the kushan empire. While coins float, travel and circulate even outside the political boundaries of an empire, reflecting its. He calls himself a tyrant in greek on his coins, and also exhibits skull deformation. I have 4 coins from kushan empire but i cant match with the ones published in the web under ancient india coins. Ardochsho is the kushan goddess and guardian of wealth and prosperity. The kushans issued abundant bronze coinage and an extensive gold coinage, but except for some scarce very early issues of the yuezhi seem to have skipped issuing silver, for some reason. Writer of the kushan, kushanosasanian, and kidarite coins.
They estimated the lifestyle and administration of kushan dynasty. Kushan empire coins for sale buy kushan empire coins. The coins on display are different from ancient chinese coins made through casting. Ardoksho seated facing on throne with garland and cornucopia, tamgha above l. Languages and literature of the kushan empire unesco. Mazdooano, the gracious one, kushan god on a gold dinara of kanishka i coin. Foreign coins and tokens, india, kushan empire, kanishka ii c. As the first detailed account of kushan coinage see cribb, 2007. During the first to midthird centuries ce, the empire of the kushans mid. The notion of a kushan dynasty or of a kushan period is entirely that of modern historians.
A catalogue of coins from the american numismatic society hardback. Tooled forgeries of kushan coins coins numismatics scribd. Coins are one of the most important sources for kushan history. Kushan coins often followed a hellenistic, or greek, style with a god or deity on one side and a ruler on the other side. The kushanas defeated the shakas and the pahlavasparthinians and went on to create a big empire in. The first 3 coins i think are all kushan empire, only the 4th i am not sure but it looks like.
The kushan empire originally formed in the early 1st century ad under kujula kadphises in the territories of ancient bactria on either side of the middle course of the oxus or amu darya, and later based in eastern and central afghanistan and the northwest of indian subcontinent. There are some stories that are showed in the book. Little silver coinage was issued, but in later periods the gold used was debased with silver. Introduction to kushan coins 1999 the devaluation of huvishkas coinage 2005 overstrikes of phraates iv 2001. Kushan king kanishka coins, his life and contribution to buddhism. Policy, patronage, and the shrinking pantheon of the kushans. In the third century ad the kushan empire broke up into smaller kingdoms.
Pdf the text portion of an article on the coinage of the third kushan emperor wima kadphises ad c. Kushan coin donations to the ans commenced with the i. Number 75, april may 1983 \2040\, pages 2029 keywords. Joes past contributions to indian numismatics are wellknown and it is fitting that they be honoured. Kushan king kanishka coins, his life and contribution to. Find the best selection from the most respected coins dealers around the world. The kushan kingdom was created by a group of nomads from xinjiangmongolia, when driven southwest by possibly the invading huns in the 2nd century bc, and existed for over 500 years. Notes on the yuezhi kushan relationship and kushan.
This would have allowed huvishka to spend a far greater amount than he really had, an opportunity few rulers would be likely to overlook. Previous studies of kushan coins kushan, kushanosasanian, and kidarite coins in the collection of the american numismatic society kushan, kushanosasanian, and kidarite coin types by ruler 1. Wing comd raja wickremasinghe published many kushan coins in his book along with osmund bopearachchi. Kanishka i is no doubt the most famous kushan king and even perhaps the greatest, although his son huvishkas empire was probably bigger and coinage more copious. King kanishka coins are very famous, the present historians got a lot of information about the kanishka empire. Gold coins of ancient kushan, including this coin which appears to be a gold stater or dinar of king kanishka i the great of kushan, 100 126 ad. Introduction nearly all the, coins documented in this catalogue of the ans collection of kushan coins were donated to the society.
On the origin of the kushans with reference to numismatic and anthropological data pdf. Pdf policy, patronage, and the shrinking pantheon of the. I hope you can help me by sending me the links of those coins. Kanishka i is no doubt the most famous kushan king and even perhaps the greatest, although his son huvishkas empire. Persian influence s are also evident in these coins.