Coins of Kushana Dynasty

VIMA KADAPHISES (110-128 AD)

Kushan kings introduced gold and copper coins, a large number of them have survived till today. It was the Kushan emperor, Vima Kadaphises who introduced the FIRST gold coins of India.

The Double Dinar can be considered as the first gold coin of Indian subcontinent. On Obverse one can see the bearded, diademed King, seated on high couch (throne) with feet resting on a foot-stool, holding in right hand a twig or branch of spice plant, a club in foreground to his right. His feet resting on foot-stool. The Greek (not Bactrian) legend Basileus Ooema Kadaphises starting at `I' position. The Kushan symbol is in upper right field. On Reverse, it is naked Shiva holding trident in right hand, standing with Nandi, the bull. The Kharoshti legends `Maharajasa rajadirajasa sarvalogaishwarasa Mahiishwarasa Vima Kadaphisasa Tratara. The legend on reverse can be translated as: Emperor, the King of Kings, follower (?) of great god (god of all) Shiva, Vima Kadaphisa, the saviour. The Nandipada symbol is on left.

Vima mostly used one deity, Shiva (Oesho in Bactrian language) standing (with trident) with (or without) his bull Nandi, on reverse of his coins. This was one of THE BEST numismatic icon ever been created in history of India. The concept of showing King on obverse and god/goddess from Hindu (sometime from Buddhist, Greek and Zorostraian) pantheon became so popular that it was used for more than 6 centuries in India on practically all the gold coins. Later, in modified form, it was used till 11th century AD.

Unfortunately, very few evidences of Kushan rule survive today. Indeed Kushan coins are perhaps the best evidence we may have of this illustrious dynasty. Kushan coins tell a great deal about the images of the kings as they wished to be seen by their subject. The portraits on Kushana gold/copper coins of Vima Kadphises are amazingly individualistic, often showing him full-bearded, big-nosed, fierce looking warrior chieftain, perhaps with deformed skull, wearing high helmet, tunic, overcoat and felt boots. This is also seen on the very few surviving sculptures of these mighty rulers, often missing heads (Vima and Kanishkas sculptures are shown here).

Vima issued gold coins in three denomination, Double Stater/Dinar (~16 gms), Dinar (~8 gms) and Quarter Dinar (~2 gms). Double Dinars are shown above, while Dinars and quarter Dinars are shown below.

In addition, Vima also issued copper coinage, in three denominations, Tetradrachm (~17 gms) Didrachm (~8.5 gms) and Drachm (~4.2 gms). A fine example of his Tetradrachm is shown below, where Vima is seen sacrificing at an altar. On reverse, Shiva and Nandi are seen.

Vima like later Indo-Greek kings, also minted bilingual coins. The obverse of this coin had legends written in cursive Greek (Bactrian) while reverse showed legends in Sanskrit, written in ancient Indian script, Kharoshti. On reverse, the Kharoshti legends reads Maharajasa Rajadhirajasa Sarvaloka Ishwarasa Mahishwarasa, Vimma Kadaphisasha Tratara. The legend on reverse can be translated as Emperor, the King of Kings, follower (?) of great god (god of all) Shiva, Vima Kadaphisa, the saviour.

Undoubtedly, Vima's coins were influenced by his predecessors Indo-Greeks, who were overthrown by Kushan. Later Indo-Greeks had issued bilingual coins (perhaps first time in the Indian history) and that explains bilingual nature of Vima's coin. Although, interestingly the most prominent deity on Vima's coin was not from Greek pantheon but it was Lord Shiva, a popular god of Hindu mythology. This fact makes Vima's and other Kushan emperor's coins very special in Indian numismatics

Vima was founder of Kushan monetary system, based on 8 gms of gold staters and ~16 gms of copper. His wight standards were later used by Gupta emperors and thus remained effective for almost 4 centuries in India! All early Kushan rulers minted excellent gold and copper coins, displaying various deities on revere. The most prominent deity of early Kushans (till Vasudeva I) was Shiva with or without his official vehicle, Nandi. Later Kushans, the rulers who occupied Kushan throne after Vasudeva I, had Laxmi or Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune and wealth on reverse of their gold coins. Laxmi, as goddess Ardoxo, was shown on few coins of Kanishka and Huvishaka, but later Kushans altogether gave up the most common icon of Kushan dynasty, the Shiva and Nandi and practically minted all their gold coinage depicting Laxmi.

This switching of deity on Kushan coinage is very interesting facet of the transition period of Kushan history. Gupta emperor, Samudragupta was the first to take serious note of coinage of his predecessors. No doubt, Samudragupta carefully studied the available Kushan coinage. He minted first gold coins of Gupta dynasty which were almost copied from later Kushan. The Kushan gold weight standard of ~8 gms is very close to Greek and early first century Roman coinage. The trade with Rome had brought large quantity of Roman gold coins in Kushan empire, which were melted for coin production in Kushana mints. Northern India never had much of gold producing mines thus indicating the Roman gold which poured in India in ample due to trade, was the major source of Kushan gold. Silver coins were rarely minted which could be because of the widespread availability and/or debasement in earlier punchmarked coins.

KANISHKA (128-154 AD)

Kushan empire was at it's peak in terms of area during his and his son's reign. Kalhan, a poet and historian of Kashmir, who wrote a famous chronicle of Kings of Kashmir, `Rajatarangini', a crucial historic document, testified that Kashmir was part of his empire. He also built a city called Kushka in Kashmir which was named after him.

HUVISHKA (154-192 AD)

Huvishka minted many different types of Gold and copper coins and used deities from all the three ancient religions, Greek, Zorostrian and Hinduism. Vima's coinage have deities from only Hindu pantheon, mostly Lord Shiva. Similarly the Kanishka's majority of coinage too have Shiva on his coins, but he introduced deities from Buddhist and Greek pantheon. But, unlike his predecessors (and successors), Huvishka has used the large number of deities from Zorostrian and Greek pantheon, clearly suggesting Bactria was still an important region of his empire.

Shown below is an extremely rare coin of Huvishka where he is show riding elephant on obverse and Three headed Shiva on reverse.

Some of the most interesting numismatic specimen with considerable historical importance are minted by Huvishka. One such coin (which is rare and highly desirable) of Huvishka shows a pair of deities, Skanda-Kumara and Vishakha (shown below). Skanda, also known by Kumara, Kumarswamy or Kartikeya, is son of Lord Shiva. He is considered to be god of war and hence is also known by another name Mahasena. Vishakha is another son of Shiva and both Skanda and Vishakha were later merged with Shiva himself. This coin of Skanda-Kumara is perhaps the earliest known depiction in existence of this very popular god. On Obverse, king emerging from clouds, holding Ankusha (elephant goad or royal sceptre). On Reverse, on left, Skanda-Kumara (CKANDO KOMARO) holds a globe-tipped staff in his left hand, while on the right is Vishakha (BIZAGO), holds trident. Both are diademed and have swords suspended from their waists. The names are written in Bactrian.

These two are very special coins as they could be the earliest surviving depiction of popular god Kartikeya (also known by other names Kumarswami, especially in south India).

Another interesting rarity minted by Huvishka which shown another form of Skanda/Kumara/Kartikeya, the Mahasena. Shown above is magnificent example of this gold coin where obverse shows king, emerging from clouds. The Reverse shows the nimbate figure of Mahasena (MAACHNO, MAASENO in Bactrian), an avatar of Lord Kartikeya, a god of war, is standing, facing. He is holding an eagle-topped ribboned staff in his right hand and his left hand is resting on his hip. He has a sword suspended from his waist.

Huvishka also minted copper coins, an example of it is also shown above. Coin depicts King riding an elephant on obverse and reverse is 3-headed Shiva. The reverse with the moon goddess, Mao is another type. This copper coin was very popular and was extensively imitated by the various neighboring regions during and after his reign.

VASUDEVA I (192-228 AD)

An early sculpture of Shiva (identified as Sadashiva) carved in 4th-7th century and excavated from Salt Range of modern Pakistan too show an excellent representation of these three forms of Shiva (below left). Interestingly, Shiva is shown ithyphallic (with erect penis), a common occurrence on Kushan coins.

Another well known representation of 3-headed Shiva is seen at Elephanta or Gharapuri Ccaves. This 20 ft high colossus was carved out of a single rock in 6th century (shown below, center). It appears that the image of Shiva holding various objects like wheel, club and lotus, which are usually associated with Vishnu, were introduced during the reigns of Kushan rulers, Huvishka, Vasudeva I and Kanishka II also minted three-headed Shiva coin which symbolically represent both the major deities of Hinduism, Shiva and Vishnu, in a single form, also known as Harihara.

KANISHKA II (228-250 AD)

Kushan empire had started its decline soon after Vasudeva's death. Vasudeva was followed by his son (?) Kanishka II who lost all the territories west of river Indus to Sassanians. Sassanians princes ruled this region and called themselves Kushanshahs and minted coins which were influenced by both Kushan and sassanian style. Kingdom of Kanishaka II consisted of provinces east of river Indus, Taxila (modern Pakistan), Punjab and region around Mathura (northern India). His coinage can be divided into two types: (1)Goddess Ardoksho (Laxmi) on reverse minted at Mathura (2)Shiva and Nandi on reverse minted at Taxila

Most of the coins minted by Kanishka II show image of seated goddess Ardochsho or Ardoxo (Laxmi as in later era) on reverse. A few Shiva depicting coins are minted by him (as cataloged by Prof. Robert Gobl #635) as reglar issue, except specimen #635.7, which shows three-headed Shiva which is the only coin of Kanishka II that depicts three-headed Shiva image (shown above). Unlike his predecessors, Kanishaka II and kings who followed him (Vasudeva II, Vashishka, Shaka and many more) minted coins bears Bramhi characters.

VASHISHKA (250-268 AD)

Vashishaka was one of the last major ruler of Kushan dynasty. His coin depicting Shiva is shown above. After Vashishka the Kushan empire had completely disintegrated into few smaller kingdoms. By fourth century AD this dynasty went into total obscurity with advent of mighty Gupta emperors .

MAGRA (4th Century AD)

Magra is considered as a ruler of `Later Kushan Dynasty', indeed, he could have been the Rebel ruler as Kushan reign was pretty much over. This gold stater is of considerable significance; possibly minted in 4th century AD, Magra could have been a contemporary of Samudragupta. The obverse shows King standing, wearing late Kushan style loose-fitting garment, heavy boots on his feet. He is seen sacrificing at Altar with his right hand, but in his left arm, he holds instead of the long-handled trident, staff topped with a Chakra or Wheel. The legend is totally corrupted Bactrian, copied from late Kushan gold staters. The legible legend instead is in Brahmi, reads the name of King, Magra on right of the staff. On the Reverse is Ardoxsho, very similar to later Kushan. It is believed that this coin was used as a prototype by Samudragupta to mint his Kacha series of gold coins, wherein he is shown carrying a `Chakra’ or wheel. Considering the fact that Samudragupta's coinage was heavily influenced by Kushan, it not very surprising. Historically this is very interesting and rare coin.

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