Copper
circa 113-127 CE
India, 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: 29 mm; Weight: 18.8 gm
Accession Number
666
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
Obv: King standing, face turned to left, right hand lowered on to a fire altar and left clasping hilt of sword; trident with battle-axe on left; tamagha and club on right; Greek inscription BASILEOS BASILEON SOTER MEGAS OOEMO KADPHISES
Rev: Siva standing, leaning against humped bull standing to right, holding trident with right hand, and resting left elbow on hump of bull; nandipada in left field; Kharoshthi inscription maharajasa rajadirajasa sarvaloga isvarasa mahisvarasa vima kathaphishasa tradara