Greek and Kharosthi Legends
on the coins of Kujula Kadphises


march, 2004

Alram IP = Michael Alram, Iranisches Personennamenbuch: Nomina Propria Iranica In Nummis, Osterreichischen Akademie Der Wissenschaften, Wien (1986)
Bopearachchi 1997 = Osmund Bopearachchi, 'Nasten, a Hitherto Unknown Iranian Ruler in India,' Studies In Silk Road Coins and Culture, The Institute of Silk Road Studies, Kamakura (1997)
Cribb 1992 = Joe Cribb, 'Numismatic Evidence For the Date of the 'Periplus',' Indian Numismatics, History, Art and Culture, Essays in the Honour of Dr. P. L. Gupta, Volumes 1 and 2, Agam Kala Prakashan, Delhi (1992)
Cribb 1993 = Joe Cribb, 'The 'Heraus' Coins: Their Attribution To The Kushan King Kujula Kadphises c. AD 30-80,' Essays In Honour of Robert Carson and Kenneth Jenkins, Spink, London (1993)
Mitchiner ACW = Michael Mitchiner, Oriental Coins, the Ancient and Classical World, Hawkins Publications, London (1978)
Mitchiner IG = Michael Mitchiner, Indo-Greek and Indo-Scythian Coinage, 9 volumes, London (1975-1976)
Rosenfield = John M. Rosenfield, The Dynastic Arts of the Kushans, University of California Press, Berkeley (1967)
Senior ISCH = Robert C. Senior, Indo-Scythian Coins and History, (3 volumes), Classical Numismatic Group, Lancaster (2001)


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Senior ISCH type 1 'Kushan'


AR Tetradrachm
29 x 30 mm.
15.63 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bust of king right within bead and reel border.
Reverse: Flying Nike crowning king riding right.
Note: Courtesy Peter A. Linenthal collection.

Senior B1

a. = 'standard' legend; b. = letters between horse's legs on some cruder issues; c. = one issue has 'ANTEIX' between horse's legs

Cribb's Tetradrachm legends
please click here




Senior ISCH type 2 'Kushan'


AR Obol
11 x 10 mm.
0.35 gm.
Die position=11h
Obverse: Bust of king right.
Reverse: Figure standing right holding wreath. Legend with round letterforms.
Note: Courtesy Peter A. Linenthal collection.

AR Obol
12 x 13 mm.
0.43 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bust of king right.
Reverse: Figure standing right holding wreath. Legend with square letterforms.

Senior B2

Cribb's Obol legends
please click here




Senior ISCH type 3 Kujula Kadphises


AE Tetradrachm as the 'Heraus' coinage (or possibly imitating it).
Note: Magnetic. See: Senior ISCH fn5 on page 220 -- he believes his illustrated coin B11.1 (Kujula Bull/Camel AE; also magnetic) is overstruck on this B3 type.
Obverse: Bust of king right.
Reverse: Flying Nike crowning king riding right.
Note: Temporary photo courtesy Senior ISCH.

Cribb 1993

Obv: Maharayasa Rayatirayasa Devaputra Kuyula Kata Kapasa
Rev: TVIANNOYNTOC HIAOY KOIIANOY

Cribb 155
22 mm.
9.76 gm.

Cribb 156
24 mm.
10.40 gm.

Both British Museum, Cunningham Collection

Senior B3 [obverse; reverse legend similar to B1, above]

Alram 1283 [his obverse legend type 7/no reverse legend given]




Senior ISCH type 4 Kujula Kadphises


AR or Billon drachm
Obverse: Bearded bust left in pointed tiara with two diadem ends; corrupt Greek legend around.
Reverse: Helmeted, winged Nike left (or right) holding wreath and palm.
Note: Temporary photo courtesy Senior ISCH.

Cribb 1992
Taxila 259 (Senior B4.1Dii):
Obverse: BA[sigma]I...ON[omega][delta]I...
Reverse: Maharajatirajasa Khoshanasa Kuju...

Taxila 258 (Senior B4.1Di):
Obverse: (not given)
Reverse: Maharajasa Devaputrasa...sa

Senior B4

fn4: These legends have been compiled from the three examples shown.

Alram 1284 (Taxila 259) and 1285 (Taxila 260) [no obverse legend given/his reverse legend type 8]

Mitchiner 1110a/b

Mitchiner IGIS v8 1110a (Taxila 259-Senior B4.1Dii) Legend as: (Maharaja)sa Rajadirajasa ? Hima Kapishasa
Mitchiner IGIS v8 1110b (Taxila 258-Senior B4.1Di) Legend as: Maharajasa Raja(dira)jasa Hi(makapi)shasa
Mitchiner IGIS v8 1111 (Taxila 260-Senior B4.2D) Legend as: ....rajasa....

Rosenfield type VI
Obverse: Illegible Greek legend.
Reverse: Maharajasa rajatirajasa Kushanasa [yavugasa?]




Senior ISCH type 5 Kujula Kadphises


AE 20
20 x 19 mm.
4.64 gm.
Die position=7h
Obverse: Bust right; Greek legend.
Reverse: 'Soldier' standing right holding spear and shield.
Note: The 'soldier' may be an early depiction of Shaoreoro, as on the gold coins of Huvishka (Gobl Kushan 224-227; 236-239; 263-267; 368; 381-383). On 381-382, the god appears to be wearing a helmet similar to the one on the obverse of the coin above. Courtesy Peter A. Linenthal collection.

Senior B5

Alram 1277 [his obverse legend 5/his reverse legend type 4]


Mitchiner 1052


Mitchiner IGIS v8 1052 Legend as: Kushana Yavuasa Kuyula Kasvasa

Rosenfield type V
Obverse:
Reverse: Kuyula Kasasa Kushana Yavuasa



Nasten
In 1992, a unique silver tetradrachm was found in Afghanistan
with headgear similar to the Kujula coin shown directly above;
please click here




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© T. K. Mallon-McCorgray, March 2004

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