Kushan Empire. 127-150CE. Northern India and Afghanistan. Gautama Buddha (Shakyamuni) The historical Buddha. An extremely rare 1/4 unit drachm of Kanishka I featuring the image of Shakyamuni Buddha "The historical Buddha". The image of Shakyamuni Buddha with the Abhayamudra (Dispel all fear) gesture with his right hand (rarer of the 2 known die variants for the drachm). Legend surrounding the Buddha: "CAKAMA ... NO BOYΔO" translated as Shakyamuni Buddha. Kushan Empire. Ancient India. Kanishka I. Seated Maitreya Bodhisattva. AE Tetradrachm. AD128-150. 16g. Very rare. Maitreya A very rare AE Tetradrachm featuring a seated figure of the future Buddha Maitreya prophesied to be reborn as a fully enlighten Buddha in the distant future to teach the Dharma. The Obverse shows a standing image of King Kanishka. All coins featuring the Buddha or Maitreya is very rare especially the ones with clear details such as this. These Buddha coins were believed to be minted after the Fourth Buddhist Council presided over by King Kanishka I during his reign. Being a devout Buddhist, his patronage of Buddhism also saw a Flourishing of Buddhist art and culture around the Gandharan region as well as missions outside of India especially to the Far East. Whilst images of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni Buddha appears in other AE and gold coinage, only 1 Tetradrachm issues featured the seated Bodhisattva Maitreya. These are also the 1st and only coins in history to feature the image of the Buddha until modern times. Although Kanishka copper coins are fairly common, the ones featuring and honouring the Buddha is extremely rare on some accounts estimated to less than 1% of all Kanishka issued coins. His Buddha coins come in 3 denominations of bronze and 1 in gold. All featured various depictions of the Buddha either standing or in 1 tetradrachm the Maitreya Boddhisattva in seated position. Amongst the Buddha issues, the smaller denominations (I.e. 1/4 and 1/2 units) are even rarer. Being a strong patron and supporter of Buddhism, he saw and organised the 4th Buddhist Council in Kashmir which saw the establishment and codification of the Mahayana School of Buddhism. It was believed that the rarity of these Buddha coins were due to them being commemorative issues for the establishment of a Stupa in his Kingdom or in conjunction with the council. The historical Buddha needs little introduction given the universal availability of information. Images of the Buddha was forbidden by the Buddha himself to avoid the establishment of a cult figure after his passing. Hence it took hundreds of years and the liberal influence of the Hellenists to start a humanistic portrayal of the Buddha in India albeit with characteristic Greek/Gandharan style. Source: Wikipedia. However unless you're Buddhist, few knew of the future Buddha, Maitreya. In a sermon, the Buddha prophesied the coming of the next fully enlightened one, Maitreya, aeons in the future who will revive the teachings of the Dharma after the full decline and loss of the Buddha's teachings and relics. In Buddhist beliefs, he is currently residing in Tushita Heaven as a Boddhisattva, awaiting the time of his prophesied return. In that rein, he is widely revered in the likes of other Boddhisattvas like Guan Yin to provide divine grace and the affinity for Buddhists with the hope to be reborn during his life to obtain full enlightenment and end their cycle of rebirth. In Asia, earlier depictions of Maitreya are always in the form of a seated royal on a throne such as this coin. However many would have seen his image as the following "Laughing Buddha" often mistaken as the historical Buddha in Chinese temples. This is based on a Buddhist legend where Maitreya was believed to have manifested in China at a point in history in this jovial monk form with a sack giving and receiving gifts to random strangers in an act to create the affinity or link for a future rebirth where he will spread his teachings and lead them to enlightenment. Source: http://jadeturtlerecords.blogspot.com/2011/01/happy-buddha.html?m=1
Weren't the Kushan coins thought to be issued at the very, very end of Kanishka's reign, hence the rarity? Its similar why 1921 Peace dollars are rarer, they weren't minted until December 1921, (same for 1916 SL quarters). The buddha type coins weren't intended to be rare we think, but then Kanishka died very shortly after and the new ruler changed types. Edit: Btw, for those deep pocketed types, CNG has a gold version at auction. Estimate is only $50,000. https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/...main-mint-in-baktria-balkh-late-phase-near-vf
Not really.. Kushan coins precede Kanishka such as the Vima Soters and others.. Kanishka himself issued quiet a number of coins in other depictions.. Just happened that the ones depicting the Buddha and Maitreya happened to be very rare. I suspect it could have been commemorative after the Buddhist Council held during his reign.. No other kings or countries hence have ever minted coins in the image of the Buddha until modern times..
I just edited my previous post with a gold example for sale. Like this one, I have always seen these listed as "late phase" and remember reading an article postulating why they are so rare. The author in that article claimed they were the last types of Kanishka I based upon overstrike and stylistic changes within the reign. Either way, very rare and I have been angling, (slowly), to try to get one for my collection. I have a pretty decent collection of bronzes, having bought Jongeward's collection of them at Triton a few years back, in addition to the other pieces I have. Gold is the metal I only have a few examples of, (for others, Kushan coins were mainly bimetallic, bronze and gold, silver only really being known in earlier portions of their reign in Sogdiana).
The Bronze Shakyamuni Buddha's come in drachm, didrachm and tetradrachm sizes. Surprisingly the drachms are rarer than the tets. Maitreya comes only in Tetradrachms. Gold Shakyamunis are extremely rare and extremely expensive..occasionally when they emerge, you are looking at 5 figure sums..
