Kushan Coinage
Encyclopedia
In Kushan coinage the main coins issued was made of gold and weighed 7.9 g, later debased with silver, and base metal issues of various weights between 12g and 1.5g. Little silver coinage was issued.
Coins are little stylised, which makes them distinct from other coins, usually picturing a deity on one side and the king on the other.
MacDowell (1968) identified three regional copper issues of Kajula Kadphises and Vima Taktu of separate coinage in their first issue, which would correspond to the three previous realms making up the Kushan empire. The northern area, Bactria
which had the largest sized coins of 12g (tetradrachms) and 1.5g, Gandhara
whose coinage weighed 9-10g for large and 2g for small, and the Indian area, where coins are 4g each.
MacDowell (1960) proposed a gradual reduction of all three issues starting with Huvishka
, while Chattopadhyay (1967) proposes a rapid devaluation of the issue by Kanishka
. It seems that there were two reductions based on the coinage of the rulers just named.
Later issues were unified into a central coinage system of weights.
MacDowell (1968) identified three regional copper issues of Kajula Kadphises and Vima Taktu of separate coinage in their first issue, which would correspond to the three previous realms making up the Kushan empire. The northern area, Bactria
Bactria
Bactria and also appears in the Zend Avesta as Bukhdi. It is the ancient name of a historical region located between south of the Amu Darya and west of the Indus River...
which had the largest sized coins of 12g (tetradrachms) and 1.5g, Gandhara
Gandhara
Gandhāra , is the name of an ancient kingdom , located in northern Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan. Gandhara was located mainly in the vale of Peshawar, the Potohar plateau and on the Kabul River...
whose coinage weighed 9-10g for large and 2g for small, and the Indian area, where coins are 4g each.
MacDowell (1960) proposed a gradual reduction of all three issues starting with Huvishka
Huvishka
Huvishka was a Kushan emperor from the death of Kanishka until the succession of Vasudeva I about forty years later. His rule was a period of retrenchment and consolidation for the Empire...
, while Chattopadhyay (1967) proposes a rapid devaluation of the issue by Kanishka
Kanishka
Kanishka ) was an emperor of the Kushan Empire, ruling an empire extending from Bactria to large parts of northern India in the 2nd century of the common era, and famous for his military, political, and spiritual achievements...
. It seems that there were two reductions based on the coinage of the rulers just named.
Later issues were unified into a central coinage system of weights.