Gold
c. 113-127 CE
India
CSMVS
Details
Culture/Civilisation
Ancient India
Theme
Trade, Movement and Exchange
Subtheme
Trade Within India
Case Title
Kings of Commerce
Display Location
Coomaraswamy Hall
Measurements
Diameter: 20 mm; Weight: 7.84 gm
Accession Number
18782
Description
Coins are the pictorial mass-media of the ancient world. Widely circulated, the king becomes part of your everyday shopping.
The Kushanas controlled the northwest trade routes to Central Asia, and Vima Kadphises was the first to mint gold coins in India, due to the influx of Roman gold.
Curators Comments
Kushana ruler Vima Kadphises
Obv: Bust of king to left, bearded, emerges from mountain top (represented by pile of round boulders); wears peaked tall cap; holds a knobby club in right hand, and clasps hilt of sword in left; tamagha in upper right field; Greek inscription (1) BASILEOS OOE-MO KADPHISES
Rev: Ithyphallic Siva standing facing on a mat, head turned left, holding trident with battle-axe in the right hand, and water pot in left, lion skin draped over left arm; tamagha on left and nandipada on right; Kharoshthi inscription, maharajasa rajadirajasa sarvalogaisvarasa mahisvarasa vima kathapisasa tratara