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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Orielensis, post: 4349982, member: 96898&quot;]That&#039;s a nice specimen! </p><p><br /></p><p>Kushan coinage and &quot;Eastern&quot; ancient and medieval numismatics in general constitute very attractive yet often underappreciated and underestimated collecting areas. This is not necessarily always bad thing – it at least keeps those coins affordable to collectors on a budget.</p><p><br /></p><p>Relatively recent studies of previously unknown epigraphic sources allowed to identify the Kushan ruler formerly known just by the title &quot;Soter Megas&quot; (&#039;the great saviour&#039;) on his coins as Vima Takto. Here is another example of his common AE unit, which is possibly best understood as a didrachm:</p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font size="3">[ATTACH=full]1101113[/ATTACH] </font></p><p><font size="3">Vima Takto, Kushan Empire, AE didrachm (?), ca. 80–95 AD, Taxila mint? Obv: Radiate (nine rays) and diademed bust r., holding sceptre; to l., tamgha. Rev: BACIΛЄωN Cω[THP MЄΓA]C; crowned and diademed king on horseback r., raising r. hand and holding reins in l. 20mm, 8.06g. Ref: Mitchiner 2941–2943.</font></p><p><br /></p><p>And here is my slightly later favorite Kushan coin, a Vima Kadphises AE tetradrachm:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1101112[/ATTACH] </p><p><font size="3">Vima Kadphises, Kushan Empire, 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 (&quot;Three Jewels&quot;) to l. 28mm, 16.8 g. Ref.: Göbl 762. Ex AMCC 1, lot 307.</font>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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