Catalog
Æ Drachm - Kujula Kadphises Roman Style
| Issuer | Kushan Empire (India (ancient)) |
|---|---|
| Year | 30-90 |
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| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
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| Reverse description | The ruler Kujula Kadphises enthroned right upon a curule-style chair, his right arm extended forward in a gesture of authority while his left hand rests upon the hilt of a sword at his side. To the left of the enthroned figure appears a distinctive tripartite circular device, possibly a dynastic or religious symbol. A Kharosthi legend surrounds the central device, identifying the issuer with his full royal titulature. The composition reflects a blend of Parthian and Central Asian iconographic traditions characteristic of early Kushan royal coinage. |
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| Mintage | ND (30-90) |
| Additional information |
Kujula Kadphises founded the Kushan Empire by unifying the five Yavana tribes of Bactria sometime in the first century AD, and his early coinage reflects a political strategy as much as an economic one. This Roman-style type directly imitates late Roman provincial issues circulating in the region, a deliberate signaling of cosmopolitan ambition toward Mediterranean trade networks at a moment when the Silk Road was becoming the dominant axis of Eurasian commerce.
ANS Kushan #103 places this among the earlier attributions in the series, before Kujula's workshop shifted toward more distinctly Kushan iconographic conventions.