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<p>[QUOTE="Parthicus, post: 3716224, member: 81887"]Thanks everyone for the replies, this is exactly the sort of thread I always hope my posts will start. Just want to reply to a few:</p><p>[USER=19463]@dougsmit[/USER] : As Rob T states in his post (#12), there are actually dozens of common types of PMC, but there are a lot of symbols that recur often , so they do tend to look similar after a while. Also, the coin you posted is HG 586, exactly the same type as my OP coin. (You probably already knew this, but it wasn't completely clear from your post.)</p><p>[USER=83232]@Muhammad Niazi[/USER] : Your coin (featuring three figures in one punch mark, the rightmost with long hair) is HG 589, which has been attributed to Ashoka. However, if Rob T's hypothesis in his paper (linked in post 12) is correct, all these types with three human figures are actually struck by rebels, not the official kings.</p><p>[USER=21445]@Mat[/USER] [USER=91461]@Ryro[/USER] [USER=56976]@Bob L.[/USER] : Ha! Thanks for the laughs. And now I've got "What is Love?" playing on repeat in my head. </p><p>[USER=93416]@EWC3[/USER] : Thank you for the link to your article, it was very interesting reading and I found your central thesis (that the PMCs with three human figures were issued by someone other than the "legitimate" Mauryan kings) convincing. Unfortunately that may mean having to relabel some of my coins; but as a long-time Parthian collector, I'm used to attributions changing. Your idea that the three figures are a triumvirate of rebel generals/insurgent kings sounds reasonable, although I don't know what other evidence could be sought for or against the ID. I am less sold on the idea that they may represent the Trimurti. The idea of a divine trinity, although it certainly exists in Hinduism, is less central in that religion than, for example, the Holy Trinity is in Western Christianity, and while the exact dates when specific Hindu texts were written is often unclear, late-3nd-century BCE seems early for such ideas. I'm not saying it's impossible, but I suspect that an average Hindu in the time these coins were struck would not look at the three figures and think "Oh, that must be Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva", especially in the absence of any additional iconography specific to those gods. Unless further evidence turns up (such as a contemporary text discussing the images on coins) all we can do is speculate. Also, thank you for writing your wonderful book on Jitals. Even though I only have a few coins of that type, I've greatly enjoyed reading your book, and would class it with Hendin's Guide to Biblical Coins for most enjoyable numismatic guidebook.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Parthicus, post: 3716224, member: 81887"]Thanks everyone for the replies, this is exactly the sort of thread I always hope my posts will start. Just want to reply to a few: [USER=19463]@dougsmit[/USER] : As Rob T states in his post (#12), there are actually dozens of common types of PMC, but there are a lot of symbols that recur often , so they do tend to look similar after a while. Also, the coin you posted is HG 586, exactly the same type as my OP coin. (You probably already knew this, but it wasn't completely clear from your post.) [USER=83232]@Muhammad Niazi[/USER] : Your coin (featuring three figures in one punch mark, the rightmost with long hair) is HG 589, which has been attributed to Ashoka. However, if Rob T's hypothesis in his paper (linked in post 12) is correct, all these types with three human figures are actually struck by rebels, not the official kings. [USER=21445]@Mat[/USER] [USER=91461]@Ryro[/USER] [USER=56976]@Bob L.[/USER] : Ha! Thanks for the laughs. And now I've got "What is Love?" playing on repeat in my head. [USER=93416]@EWC3[/USER] : Thank you for the link to your article, it was very interesting reading and I found your central thesis (that the PMCs with three human figures were issued by someone other than the "legitimate" Mauryan kings) convincing. Unfortunately that may mean having to relabel some of my coins; but as a long-time Parthian collector, I'm used to attributions changing. Your idea that the three figures are a triumvirate of rebel generals/insurgent kings sounds reasonable, although I don't know what other evidence could be sought for or against the ID. I am less sold on the idea that they may represent the Trimurti. The idea of a divine trinity, although it certainly exists in Hinduism, is less central in that religion than, for example, the Holy Trinity is in Western Christianity, and while the exact dates when specific Hindu texts were written is often unclear, late-3nd-century BCE seems early for such ideas. I'm not saying it's impossible, but I suspect that an average Hindu in the time these coins were struck would not look at the three figures and think "Oh, that must be Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva", especially in the absence of any additional iconography specific to those gods. Unless further evidence turns up (such as a contemporary text discussing the images on coins) all we can do is speculate. Also, thank you for writing your wonderful book on Jitals. Even though I only have a few coins of that type, I've greatly enjoyed reading your book, and would class it with Hendin's Guide to Biblical Coins for most enjoyable numismatic guidebook.[/QUOTE]
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