Featured My first Kushan Kingdom - Vima Kadphises Didrachm (and a Book Recommendation)

Thank you! @Curtisimo
Cool, I have a DiDrachm that may had served as a Tet. DIdrachm sized coins (approx 8+ grams) are a favorite of mine: Pre-Reform Roman Heavy Denarius, Greek DiDrachm, Carthage Shekel, etc. Fun size!

 

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Great addition! I alsolike Kushan coinage, here is one of mine....

AV Dinara ND Peshawar Mint
Kanishaka I 125-52AD
Kushan Empire
obv. King Standing
rev. Mao (Moon God)

 

Nice coin and thanks for the book recommendation! I find Kushan history and coins fascinating, and wonder why they seem to get so little attention from most ancient coin collectors. One the other hand, this also is not too bad since it keeps Kushan coins affordable.

Here are two of mine:


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.


Vima Kadphises, Kushan Empire, 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.

 

I recommend this

https://www.academia.edu/6882687/Coin_Weight_and_Historical_Metrology

see pages 145 - 149

to summarize (my best guesses)

The Soter Megas AE is a slightly degraded Attic didrachm standard

The Vima Kadphises AE is just it double, Attic Tetradrachm.

The Great Kushan gold is a different standard – apparently exactly 8.0g and equating to 80 rattis. It seems to derive from Attic but changed to fit the Hindu system

The 9.6g silver standard of the Indo-Greeks and Scyths is a 96 ratti coin. That seems to have a different source altogether, its roots in a Hindu weight system dating back to 2,600 BC or earlier.

I discussed most of this with Joe Cribb on the phone a few weeks back, and I do not recall he disagreed any of it.

Rob T

 

Thank you for sharing that, Rob. That certainly clarifies the Kushans for me. As for that paper, what thorough research combined with a well-organized overview. I've only just started in, but I look forward to reading this.

Being a numbers dunce, I am easily confused by the weight standards-aspect of numismatics, but from what I've looked at so far, I think this will be a pleasure to read and use. Thanks again!

 

That's quite a nice coin and the legends are clearly visible. A fine start to Kushan and related coinage. With this one, I suspect it won't be your last!

 

Thanks Stuart. I got lucky with this one, I think. Welcome to Coin Talk!

 

I see it was just over 3 years ago I started buying Silk Road coins from India and South Asia in general. Now I have about 260 of them and there is no end in sight. I have yet to get a decent Kushan. Here are a few examples. You can right click on the picture and then do "inspect", I think. The file names are self explanatory. I don't know where I would be without zeno.ru. They are an invaluable resource in identifying such coins.

 

I got that coin