Late Kushan - Kidarite Gold Dinar (S. Ad 360-380)

Hey everyone. You might remember me from such coins as this...

Kidarite Huns
India, Kannauj
Yashosvarman of Kannauj (AD 728-745)
EL Dinar 22 mm x 7.56 grams
Obverse: Formalized Kushan-style king sacrificing left; below arm, Kidara; in left field,Ka.
Reverse: Semi-realistic goddess Ardoksho (Tyche) enthroned facing, holding garland and cornucopiae; in right field, Sri Yasova; in left field, Rma.
Ref: Smith (1906), Indian Museum Calcutta, Vol. I, Part III, p. 268, 1ff and pl. XXVII, 6; MACW 3649 ("Kidarites", 5th C.). Good Very Fine. Rare.






Its interesting. This coin requires some imagination or some experience to see the intended design. The description seems plausible but one could see many things in abstraction. I am very fascinated by the cultures of Central Asia Greeks, Huns, Kushan, and all sorts of other folks. I really wanted a gold dinar of the Kushan empire. I looked a quite a few different types and waited for one to speak to me. I had found it! An ancestor of the above coin type this Gold dinar features the King sacrificing to a fire and the goddess Ardoksho (Tyche) enthroned facing, holding garland (diadem) and cornucopiae;

Although technically not a Kushan Dinar, this gold coin is from the Kingdom of the Kidarites, Red Huns sometimes called Small Kushans. The coin represents a transitional phase to Hunnic rule in the region, and the final days of the Kushan empire. What makes the coin strange is the legend, It names a king Peroz! Peroz is known to us from the Sassanian dynasty and local Kushan-shah rulers and is clearly a name of Iranian origin. Gadahara is thought to be a proper name also represented on the coin. They coin may be read Peroz son of Gadahara, yet son is implied and no coins of Gadahara alone exist. The CoinIndia website suggests that there was a King, Gadahara who was being pressured from all sides and struck coins to pay homage to the various local rulers.

Kushan Empire - Kidarite Huns
Bactrian Region
Gadahara-Peroz (AD 360-380)
AV Dinar 19.5 mm x 7.79 grams
Obverse: Formalized Kushan-style king sacrificing left; below arm, Brahmi legend Gadahara at right, Piroz under arm; in left field, Kushana
Reverse: Realistic goddess Ardoksho (Tyche) enthroned facing, holding garland (diadem) and cornucopiae; in right field, Brahmi letter Sha; in left field, Tamgha.
Ref: Gobl 608




I love how the reverse invites the viewer sit down next to the goddess of plenty, she is clearly utilizing half of the couch.