Gold
Kushana ; c. 151-190 CE
North India
CSMVS
Details
Culture/Civilisation
Ancient India, India
Theme
Writing
Subtheme
India and China – Language and Society
Display Location
Coomaraswamy Hall
Measurements
Diameter: 13 mm; Weight: 1.88gm
Accession Number
5631
Description
Ancient coins (and stone inscriptions) show that India has been a multilingual society for several thousand years. These coins combine both official and local languages – Indian and foreign – written in different scripts on the same coin.
Curators Comments
Kushana ruler Huvishka
Obv: Half-length figure of king to left emerges from mountain top; flames emanate from right shoulder; wears round helmet with jeweled brim, twin-pronged forehead ornament, crescent on the side and crest ornament; has moustache, heavy sideburns, and prominent wart on the cheek; holds short club in right hand and hilt of sword in left; Bactrian inscription around (7) SHAO NANOSHAO O-OESHKI KOSHANO
Rev: Goddess Nana stands in three-quarter profile to right, head surrounded by halo, dot within crescent on crown; sword held by belt emerges from behind body to lower left; holds a wand with lion protome in right hand, bowl in left; tamgha with crossbar on right; Bactrian inscription on left NANA