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Tetradrachm - Vasudeva II
| Issuer | Kushan Empire |
|---|---|
| Year | 195-230 |
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| Value | Log in to see details |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | 3.59 mm |
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|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The deity Shiva is depicted standing facing, rendered with two arms, holding a trident in one hand and a diadem or fillet in the other, consistent with standard Kushan divine iconography. The sacred bull Nandi stands to the left behind the deity, serving as Shiva's traditional vahana and a recurring reverse type on Kushan copper coinage. The composition is bold and hieratic in style, with the figures occupying the full field of the flan. The reverse design reflects the strong Shaivite religious orientation of the late Kushan court under Vasudeva II. |
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| Edge | Rough |
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| Additional information |
Vasudeva II is poorly attested in the historical record — his relationship to Vasudeva I remains debated, and some scholars have questioned whether he represents a distinct ruler or a regional successor administering a fragmenting empire. What is clear is that copper tetradrachms attributed to his reign appear as Sasanian pressure from the west was beginning to destabilize Kushan control over Bactria, a process that would eventually produce the Kushano-Sasanian kingdom by the mid-3rd century.