Kanishka's coins
Topic: Post-Mauryan India: Shungas to Kushanas · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 6 "The Age of Reorganisation"
Meaning
Kanishka's coins are the gold and copper coins of the Kushana king Kanishka. One side usually shows the king as "King of Kings", standing and holding a spear. The other side shows a deity. The coins show a powerful ruler advertising that he supported many faiths.
Example
One coin of Kanishka shows the Buddha on the back, labelled "BOΔΔO" in Greek script. Another shows Shiva with Nandi, his bull. The Kushanas issued the first gold coins in India, c. 1st century CE. These coins matched Roman gold coins in weight and have been found across north India and Central Asia.
Don't confuse with
- Indo-Greek coins: these were the first coins in India to carry rulers' names and portraits, c. 2nd century BCE. Kanishka's coins came later. The Kushanas' "first" was gold coinage, not the first coins.
- Punch-marked coins: these are much older silver and copper coins, from c. 6th century BCE. They have stamped symbols, not royal portraits.
Related concepts
- Kushanas
- Kujula Kadphises
- Vima Kadphises
- Kanishka
- Huvishka
- Divine kingship
- Devaputra
- Rabatak inscription
- Kanishka casket