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Lot No.134
AUC43
Ancient India
Auction Date: 23-12-2022
Gold
Kushans - gold dinar of Huvishka (c.152-190 AD), possibly minted at the main mint in Gandhara (Peshawar?), Goebl 157, 7.87g. Obv: Diademed half-length bust of Huvishka, wearing a conical crown, facing left, emerging from clouds, holding a club in right hand and a filleted sceptre in left; Bactrian legend from 7 o'clock ShAONANO ShAO OOEShKI KOShANO. Rev: Three Nimbate male deities standing facing with hands on hips, on a decorated double dais within an ornate corbeled central bay, the central figure crowned and the other two looking at it with heads turned, all carrying swords and the figure to the right carrying a standard as well. Bactrian legend MAASENO BIZAGO SKANDO KOMARO around and tamgha in inner left field.
About Extremely fine, Exceedingly rare.
Only a few specimens of this rare type are known to exist, including two in the British Museum and one in the Bode Museum, Berlin. The depiction of Mahasena, Skandakumara and Vishakha as separate individuals on this coin shows that during the Kushan period, these three were regarded as separate deities. About three hundred years later, during the Gupta period, they fused into Karttikeya, the son of Shiva, who retained their 'war-god' character. The coin motif therefore constitutes significant evidence for the evolution of Hindu iconography. The depiction of the enclosure for the deities is reminiscent of a Roman temple.
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Estimated Price :
Rs. 15,00,000-20,00,000
Sold For :
Rs. 19,50,000
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