Kushanas & their coins

Recently discovered coinage depicting gods and goddesses dates back to the Kushans.

More information on Kushana Coins

Coin introduction:

• Vima Kadaphises, the Kushan emperor, was the one who introduced India's first gold coins.
• The Double Dinar is considered the Indian subcontinent's first gold coin.
• He issued gold and copper coins, many of which have survived to the present day.
• Kanishka minted coins in two metals: gold and copper.
• Dinar (or stater) and quarter Dinar gold coins were minted in two denominations.
• Kushana coins were undoubtedly influenced by their predecessors, the Indo-Greeks, who were defeated by the Kushanas.

Kushana coin images include:

• Gods: The coins depict Greek, Roman, Iranian, Hindu, and Buddhist deities.
• Historians believe that the Kushanas were the first to depict Goddess Lakshmi on their coins, alongside Ardochsho, the Iranic Goddess of wealth.
• In their coinage, they also depicted Oesho (Shiva), the moon deity Miro, and Buddha.
• Kushan coins reveal a lot about the images of the kings that they wanted their subjects to see.
• Portraits of Vima Kadphises on Kushana gold/copper coins are incredibly individualistic, often depicting him as a full-bearded, big-nosed, fierce-looking warrior chieftain, possibly with a deformed skull, wearing a high helmet, tunic, overcoat, and felt boots.

Indian coins

The first step:

• India's coinage began between the early first millennium BCE and the sixth century BCE, and consisted primarily of copper and silver coins in its early stages.
• Karshapanas or Pana coins were used during this time period.

Gupta Tokens:

• The Gupta Empire issued numerous gold coins depicting Gupta kings performing various rituals.
• The magnificent gold coinage of the Guptas, with its many types and infinite varieties and Sanskrit inscriptions, is the finest example of coinage that we have.

India's dynasties with gods on their coins

Coinage depicting gods and goddesses has a long history in India.

Vijayanagara Kings:

• Vijayanagara kings issued coins depicting Hindu deities. Brahma-Saraswati, Vishnu-Lakshmi, and Shiva-Parvati coins were introduced by Harihara II (1377-1404).
• Even after the kingdom was snuffed out in 1565, the Vijayanagara coins remained in circulation and commanded a premium when French traveller Tavernier visited the region.

British East India Company:

• The British East India Company minted coins known as the Three Swamy Pagodas, which depict Lord Balaji flanked on either side by Sridevi and Bhudevi.
• Not every coin was newly minted. Some of them were repurposed. Some were distributed to demonstrate continuity.

About The Kushana Empire

Origin:

• The Kushans were one of five branches of the Indo-European nomadic Yuezhi confederation.
• During the first three centuries, the Yuezhis ruled over most of the northern Indian subcontinent, Afghanistan, and parts of Central Asia.
• In India, the Yuezhi nomads later became a ruling elite in a vast area stretching from Afghanistan to the Indus Valley and the North Indian Plain.

Kanishka's role:

• Kanishka is regarded as the greatest king of the Kushan dynasty, which ruled over the northern Indian subcontinent, Afghanistan, and possibly areas of Central Asia north of Kashmir.
• He is best known, however, as a great supporter of Buddhism.

Eurasian superpower:

• During his reign, the kingdom was recognised as one of the four major Eurasian powers of the time (the others being China, Rome, and Parthia).
• The year 78 marks the start of the Shaka era, a system of dating that Kaniska may have invented.
• Kushanas adapted the Persian satrapy administrative system into the Indian kshatrapa administration.
• The Kushan regime granted local institutions such as castes, guilds, and Buddhist monasteries significant autonomy while gaining support from those communities.

Trade with Rome:

• As evidenced by their large gold coin issues, the Kushans became prosperous through trade, particularly with Rome.
• The Kushan Empire benefited economically from Silk Road trade while also receiving knowledge from distant countries and facilitating the transfer of knowledge to the visions of the Romans, Parthians, and Chinese.
• Buddhism and Indian art schools: The Kushans were important in spreading Buddhism in Central Asia and China, as well as developing Mahayana Buddhism and the Gandhara and Mathura schools of art.
• Unfortunately, very little evidence of Kushan rule remains today.
• Kushan coins are possibly the best evidence we have of this illustrious dynasty in this regard.

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