Gold
circa 151-190 CE
North India
CSMVS
Details
Culture/Civilisation
Ancient India
Theme
Empire: Projecting Power
Subtheme
Seeing the Ruler / Royal Portraiture
Case Title
Indian kings on a coin
Display Location
Coomaraswamy Hall
Findspot
Northern India
Measurements
Diameter: 14 mm; Weight: 2.13gm
Accession Number
5630
Description
Coins are the pictorial mass-media of the ancient world. Widely circulated, the king becomes part of your everyday shopping.
Following Greek models, Indian kings around 200 BCE began putting their portraits on coins. These were usually images of power rather than actual likenesses, showing the king as warrior or hunter, with his queen or playing a musical instrument. The other side shows a protective deity.
Curators Comments
Ruler: Kushana ruler Huvishka
This gold quarter dinar was issued by the Kushan ruler Huvishka, who is shown as if emerging from a mountain top. Following the Greek-Roman style of profile portraiture, he is shown wearing a crested helmet. Facial features are prominent. He holds a club and a sword in his right & left hands respectively, a symbol of his kingship.
Obv: Bactrian inscription around (7) SHAO NANOSHAO OESHKI KOSHAN
Rev: Goddess Ardoxsho stands in three-quarter profile, facing right, head surrounded by halo, hair with crown ornament; holds ornamented cornucopia with both hands; tamagha with cross bar on right; Bactrian inscription on left ARDOXSHO
