Hey everyone. You might remember me from such coins as this... Kidarite Huns India, Kannauj Yashosvarman of Kannauj (AD 728-745) EL Dinar 22 mm x 7.56 grams Obverse: Formalized Kushan-style king sacrificing left; below arm, Kidara; in left field,Ka. Reverse: Semi-realistic goddess Ardoksho (Tyche) enthroned facing, holding garland and cornucopiae; in right field, Sri Yasova; in left field, Rma. Ref: Smith (1906), Indian Museum Calcutta, Vol. I, Part III, p. 268, 1ff and pl. XXVII, 6; MACW 3649 ("Kidarites", 5th C.). Good Very Fine. Rare. Its interesting. This coin requires some imagination or some experience to see the intended design. The description seems plausible but one could see many things in abstraction. I am very fascinated by the cultures of Central Asia Greeks, Huns, Kushan, and all sorts of other folks. I really wanted a gold dinar of the Kushan empire. I looked a quite a few different types and waited for one to speak to me. I had found it! An ancestor of the above coin type this Gold dinar features the King sacrificing to a fire and the goddess Ardoksho (Tyche) enthroned facing, holding garland (diadem) and cornucopiae; Although technically not a Kushan Dinar, this gold coin is from the Kingdom of the Kidarites, Red Huns sometimes called Small Kushans. The coin represents a transitional phase to Hunnic rule in the region, and the final days of the Kushan empire. What makes the coin strange is the legend, It names a king Peroz! Peroz is known to us from the Sassanian dynasty and local Kushan-shah rulers and is clearly a name of Iranian origin. Gadahara is thought to be a proper name also represented on the coin. They coin may be read Peroz son of Gadahara, yet son is implied and no coins of Gadahara alone exist. The CoinIndia website suggests that there was a King, Gadahara who was being pressured from all sides and struck coins to pay homage to the various local rulers. Kushan Empire - Kidarite Huns Bactrian Region Gadahara-Peroz (AD 360-380) AV Dinar 19.5 mm x 7.79 grams Obverse: Formalized Kushan-style king sacrificing left; below arm, Brahmi legend Gadahara at right, Piroz under arm; in left field, Kushana Reverse: Realistic goddess Ardoksho (Tyche) enthroned facing, holding garland (diadem) and cornucopiae; in right field, Brahmi letter Sha; in left field, Tamgha. Ref: Gobl 608 I love how the reverse invites the viewer sit down next to the goddess of plenty, she is clearly utilizing half of the couch.
Masternoob you find the most interesting coins. the first coin is hard tell what going on, but the Gold Dinar,super awesome, details off the charts, not sure i would want to share the couch with the old girl,but do love the coin..
another gold coin...man you guys are killing me. that's a fantastic coin AN, what a great facing reverse. the sacrificing king is in pretty great also. this is the closest thing i have, has a similar king obverse , and a goddess reverse...but nana from the side view. Kanishaka I, Kushan Empre, 128-150 AD o: king, bactrian legend. r: nana, 18 mm, 4.2 g,
Fascinating 'Noob'.... .....and while I agree with Eng..... I think I might consider sharing a couch with the 'old girl'
The style kind of reminds me of 11th-13th cent Byzantine coins. You're telling me! It took forever for me to see the bull on my brother's 11th cent Kabul bronze (I know not the same thing as the first OP coin but its style and your comment made me think of it).
@Ancientnoob .. congrats man!!! You finally got yourself a winner Kushan Dinar there!! Excellent piece!!
Outstanding! Well done, and excellent captures! Gold and Electrum...very cool! Looks like a couple crown jewels for you eclectic focus...
You know Nathan, i might have been a little hasty, i think Mikey is right, maybe i would share a few cookies with the "old girl" on the couch!!
Congratulations on this new fine aquisition Nathan ! I won't show the same type, but a picture i showed before. It displays the evolution of the bronze type with the same depiction over several centuries.
Excellent addition @THCoins , this is the kind of stuff that I love. It is amazing how those few designs through out history have stood the test of time, weather it be the Ceylon Standing/ Seated King, or the Western Satraps/ Gupta bust right and Greek legend, or the Sassanian bust right, fire alter reverse. Its what money is supposed to look like!
Pretty cool, Noob .... ummm, it takes a while to squint and try to figure-out what's up at times, but they always end-up making me say "wow, cool lookin' coin" good job, my friend
