Kushan Kingdom. Kanishka I (c.127-147 AD). AE didrachm (or double unit, or half unit) (8.07 g). Obverse: King standing with trident in left hand and sacrificing over altar with right hand, slightly blundered legend in Greek around "Basileus basileon kaneshkou" (of King of Kings Kanishka). Reverse: Radiate sun god facing left and holding out right hand, tamgha on left, to right Greek legend Elios (Helios). Mitchiner, Ancient and Classical World 3065-69. This coin: Stephen Album Sale 514, lot 514 (2022). Kanishka I or Kanishka the Great (reigned c. 127-147 AD) ruled the Kushan kingdom at the height of its power and extended its rule to its maximum extent, covering much of the northern Indian subcontinent and extending into parts of central Asia and some territory in what is now westernmost China. Here's a map borrowed from Wikipedia: Kushan coins show a variety of different deities on the reverses, and indicate a highly syncretistic approach to religion, in which gods from different traditions were often combined together or considered to be merely different aspects of the same underlying deity. This coin features the radiate Sun God, and identifies him clearly by his Greek title Helios; later coins of Kanishka also include the radiate Sun God, but now under his Zoroastrian title of Mithra. Coins featuring Indo-Iranian deities seem to be more common, but the inclusion of Greek and also rarer Buddhist reverses may indicate the rulers were attempting to appeal to a diverse group of subjects from different religious traditions. Kanishka himself is known to have favored Buddhism, and he was important in the transmission of Buddhism to China. Kushan bronze coins have a well-defined series of sizes, of 4, 8, and 16 grams weight. Most writers and dealers seem to consider the 4 gram piece as an AE drachm, and the larger coins thus as didrachms and tetradrachms. I've also seen the 4 gram denomination simply referred to as the "unit" (since we don't know for sure if it was actually called a drachm when it was used), and occasionally the 16 gram coin is considered the fundamental unit. The most common coin seems to be the 16 gram, followed by 4 gram, then 8 gram a bit scarcer than 4 gram. Some deities are very common (Shiva, Mithra, Nana) while others are quite scarce (the several depictions of the Buddha). Finding high-grade examples, even of the common types, is a challenge. I like this coin because it features a scarcer deity (Sun God as Helios rather than Mithra) and the designs and inscriptions are reasonably clear for Kushan bronzes. Please post your Kushan coins, or whatever else is related.
Fascinating coin and informative write-up! In my opinion, Kushan bronze coins are underappreciated by collectors. Yes, high grade examples are, as you wrote, hard to find. But if you are not a grade collector, reasonably worn examples are still attractive, and the mixture of Greek and Indo-Iranian cultural influences visible on these is truly intriguing. I don't have a Helios, but a worn Heracles and several Indo-Iranian deities: Kushan Empire, Kujula Kadphises, AE tetradrachm: local imitation, ca. 40–60 AD, minted in the Western Provinces? Obv: blundered Greek legend, draped bust (Hermaios imitation) right. Rev: Kharoshthi legend, Heracles standing with club and lion skin. 22mm, 8.29 g. Ref.: Mitchiner 1978, no. 2897–2903. Kushan Empire, Vima Kadphises, AE tetradrachm, ca. 90–100 AD. Obv: BACIΛE[ΥC BACIΛEωN] CWTHP MEΓAC OOHM KAΔΦICHC, Kadphises, standing facing, head l., sacrificing over altar to l, and holding hand on hilt; to l., trident; to r., tamgha and club. Rev: Kharoshthi legend; Siva standing facing, holding trident; behind, the bull Nandi standing r.; Buddhist triratana ("Three Jewels") to l. 28mm, 16.8 g. Ref.: Göbl 762. Ex AMCC 1, lot 307. Kushan Empire, Kanishka, AE tetradrachm, ca. 130–153 AD, Taxila or Pushkalavati mint. Obv: þAO KA[Nη]þKI (“King Kanishka”); crowned, diademed king standing facing, head l., holding spear and sacrificing at altar at l. Rev: AΘþO; God of metals Athsho standing facing, head l., one hand on hip, the other holding out diadem; in field l., tamgha. 26mm, 17,07. Rev: Mitchiner 3082–3084. Kushan Empire, Kanishka, AE tetradrachm, ca. 130–153 AD, Taxila or Pushkalavati mint. Obv: þAO KA[NηþKI] (“King Kanishka”); crowned, diademed king standing facing, head l., holding spear and sacrificing at altar at l. Rev: OOηþO; four-armed Oesho (Shiva?) standing facing, head l., nimbate, holding various attributes; in field l., tamgha. 24mm, 16,86g. Rev: Mitchiner 3098–3105. Kushan Empire, Kanishka, AE tetradrachm, ca. 130–153 AD, Taxila or Pushkalavati mint. Obv: [þAO KA]NηþKI (“King Kanishka”); crowned, diademed king standing facing, head l., holding spear and sacrificing at altar at l. Rev: OAΔO; God of wind Vado running l., holding up cloak blowing in the wind; in field l., tamgha. 25mm, 17.17g. Rev: Mitchiner 3115–3119. Huvishka, Kushan Empire, AE tetradrachm, c. 155-189 CE. Obv: þAONANOþ OOηþKE KOþANO (partially struck), King riding elephant r., holding elephant goad. Re: OηþO; Oesho (Siva?) standing facing, holding trident and deerskin. 26mm, 9.97g. Ref: Göbl 855; Mitchiner 3291-3301.
Nice write up. Kanishka I didrachm Helios 127AD, 22mm 8.4g (year 1 - greek legends) Kanishka I tetradrachm Mithro (Mithras) 128-150AD, 26mm 16.9g (bactrian legends) It's interesting that they depicted Mithras identically to Helios as a sun god. Is that because the Kushans decided they were equivalent (even if they really weren't)? I Just came across this atypical radiate Roman Mithras from the Carnuntum Mithraeum III.
Very informative write-up, @Parthicus - my Kushan collection is very scanty; here's my only one for Kanishka I: Kushan Kingdom Æ Tet. Kanishka I (c. 128-150 A.D.) þAO KANηþKI, King standing holding spear, sacrificing at altar left / AΘþO, God of metals Athsho standing left, shoulder flames, holding out diadem, hand on hip, tamgha in left field. Göbl 772; MAC 3082. (16.61 grams / 23 mm) eBay Nov. 2021 Although this one was issued by VIma Kadphises, this is the scarcer "didrachm" or "half unit" denomination: Kushan Kingdom Æ Didrachm Vima Kadphises (c. 100-128 A.D.) King standing sacrificing at fire altar, club, tamgha & axehead-shafted trident in fields, Greek legend around / Siva standing w. trident & deerskin, bull Nandi right behind, Kharoshti legend. Göbl 763; MAC 3048-49. (8.66 grams / 20 mm) eBay Sept. 2019 $8.50 BIN Attribution Notes: Full legends: BACIΛEYC BACIΛEWN CWTHP MEΓAC OOHMO KAΔΦICHC/ maharajasa rajadirajasa sarvaloga isvarasa mahisvarasa Vima Kathphishasa tratara Coins India (coinindia.com): "...the rare di-drachm or half unit. These are hard to find."
Some quick reading suggests that in the Roman sphere, Mithras was closely associated with "Sol Invictus" (Helios) but distinct from the imperial cult. The Kushan pantheon was nothing if not inclusive.
Yes, certainly by the end he seems to have been - there are inscriptions to SOL INVIСTO MITHRAE etc, and we do see these radiate depictions. But, in the Tauroctony reliefs Sol and Luna often appear as distinct characters from Mithras, and he's more typcially just wearing his Phyrgian cap. I'm guessing the Kushans are depicting the Persian Mithras.
While I am not opposed to worn coins, I do have a preference to whose well enough centered and struck that the legends can be read. Of my Kushan coins, the Kanishka Helios is worn to Fine but the closest to what I would want. This most certainly is not a series for those who require perfect examples. 'Also ran' is Nanaia: Simultaneously the best and worst of my Kushan coins is the Vima Kadphises with what I considered good detail overall despite the horrible faces. I looked through a lot of junk boxes to find these most common types with legends. It might be good to mention that NGC lists these types as things they will not grade. They do accept the Soter Megas coins which I consider several times more complex than the Vima/Kaniska issues but neither is easy to find in 'good shape'. While I have no interest in paying more for grading than the cost of the coins, it would be interesting to see just how good the best that they have seen really are.
Great coins and write up. Greek gods and culture did permeate into Buddhist pantheon no less thanks to Hellenistic culture which reached Northern India which also happened to be a cradle of Mahayana Buddhism. For example, Hercules is widely recognized even today as a protector of the Dharma (Buddhist law) in the form of Vajarapani. Although the depiction is unrecognizable to western depictions given the Asian portrayal in the Buddhist pantheon.
