Ancients => Kushan => man, they always seem to be givin 'er (well played, Kushan ... well played)

Yah, it always seems like the Kushan gang know how to have a good time ...

INDIA, Kushan: Vima Kadphises AE tetradrachm
circa 112-127 CE
Diameter: 28 mm
Weight: 16.88 grams

Obverse: King standing facing, sacrificing at altar left, tamgha and club in right field, Greek legend around: BACIΛEVC BACIΛEWN CWTHP MEΓAC OOhMO KAΔΦICHC

Reverse: Oesho (Siva) standing facing, Bull Nandi behind, nandipada at left, Kharoshthi legend around: maharajasa rajadirajasa sarvaloga isvarasa mahisvarasa vima kathphishasa tratara

Reference: Göbl 762, MAC 3033

Other: 12 o'clock ... a choice specimen with good legend and the king's name spelled fully (OOhMO KAΔΦICHC). Hard to find examples nicer than this baby!!





=> bring-on your ancients from India ... bring-on the Kushan!!

 

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*edit*

... sorry, I always get carried away with those Kushan gals!!

 

=> 28 mm & 17 grams of good ol' back-country-Indian-pond-skippin' fun!!

 

Nice coin, Steve. I don't collect Indian but I came across this chubby little Indo-Sassanian drachm for the price of lunch, so why not, right?

Indo-Sasanian, Gadhalya Paisa 800 - 950 AD Drachm
OBVERSE: Indo-Sasanian style Kings bust right
REVERSE: Stylized fire altar, with attendants on either side.
13mm - 4.6 grams
Mitchiner Non-Islamic 427

It is believed the imagery on these coins incorporate the Zoroastrian view of heaven and hell. The design elements on these coins have close correlation to the Book of Arda Viraf , a sacred Zoroastrian text. Based on the teachings of Zoraster, a prophet and reformer, Zoroastrianism is a philosphy and religion that first appeared in historical records in the 5th century BC. Zoroastrianism was a dominant religion in Central asia during periods of the Western Satrap, Kushan and Maurian Empires. It included essential concepts of heaven and hell and the resurrection of the dead.

Excerpts from : The Numismatist vol. 123,#3 3/10

 

Ummm, I don't have too many Indian coins ... but I do have a couple ...

Indo-Scythian Kings, Azes. AE-Unit. Brahma Bull / Lion
c. 58 - 20 BC
Diameter: 27 mm
Weight: 13.35 grams
Orientation: 10 h
Obverse: Rajadirajasa Legend. Lion standing rt., monogram above
Reverse: Brahma bull rt., monogram above, shi before



INDO-SKYTHIANS. Azes. AR Tetradrachm
Circa 58-12 BC
Diameter: 27 mm
Weight: 9.32 grams
Obverse: King on horseback right, holding spear
Reverse: Zeus standing slightly left, holding thunderbolt and scepter; monogram to lower left, Bha to right

 

Thanks JA => cool addition, brother (you rock, my friend)

 

Those two last pieces have super eye appeal. The new Kushan tet fits right in with them.

 

I agree, most of these are worn or poorly struck. This first is the best I have seen except for the flat struck heads.

This has little merit except for the facial details on the obverse.

This is the variety with club on right of obverse upright rather than diagonal.


Kaniska has a nice series of bronzes with various gods on the reverse but they are also hard to find in good shape.

Mao
Nanaia

Helios

Who has others?

 

awesome additions, brother!! (sweet collection)

 

By the way: Kushan gold is nice and not expensive except for being gold. High grade ones are not hard to find. I have none (they are gold, after all).
http://www.acsearch.info/search.htm...&it=1&es=1&ot=1&currency=usd&order=0&company=

 

apparently I have to update my browser to check-out your cool link ...

... stupid browser!!

 

that's a fantastic kushan stevex, sweet surfaces and color...one of the best i've seen.

DS, your last couple with the nimbate goddess (nana?) are sweet as well.

i only have a few kushan, here's my sorter megas megas, and soter megas minor.





nice to see some eastern coins!

 

I had to look-up a couple of words in the coin's description ...

=> sweet coins chrsmat (thanks for posting)

 

Regarding tamgha as it applies to coins: Each king used a slightly different tamgha from the king that preceded him. Notice the tamgha of Kaniska has side 'ears' that turn down while Vima's went up. Next come Huviska who has the bottom structure replaced with what looks like legs with upturned feet. All of these have the four prong top.

Most Soter Megas tamghas have three prongs on top but there are some rare ones with four. Most seem to take this as a mint variation but I wonder if scholars are certain about this. The one below is a small size (drachm) and my only one with the four prongs. There are some that have four on one side and three on the other (I can't explain that either).

 

Thanks for the tamgha lesson, Doug ... very interesting (it makes me want to collect more of these Indian coins)

Cheers

 

As usual, there is a price to be paid for my lessons --- by me. I found a Soter Megas on VCoins with 3 prongs on one side and 4 on the other. I guess I got off easy not buying a gold coin.

 

Very intricate designs. Never seen these. Thanks for sharing.