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 Replies: 12 / Views: 3,044 |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Adding to my collection of Eastern empire coinage is this tetradrachm of Gondophares IV Sases (aka Sases). What makes this an interesting coin is the ancient Buddhist symbol on the reverse called a Nandipada. This symbols in the shape of a trident and a circle. The Trident represents the Triatna, The Three Jewels, Dharma, Buddha, and Sangha, while the circle represents the Dharma. This symbol confirms that Sases was a Buddhist. Sase was a Indo-Parthian king that ruled for 26 years. He was connected with St Thomas and is mentioned in the Acts of Thomas. AE Tetradrachm Gondophares IV Sases 1st century AD Obverse: King on horse back with tamga to the right. Reverse: Zues standing right with Nandipada symbol, Kharoshthi legend off flan: MAHARAJASA MAHATASA TRATRASA DEVAVRADASA GUDAPHARASA SASASA. ( Great King of Kings divine and Saviour Gondophares Sases) 21.5mm x 9.7g x 2h. Reference Senior 242.624T.    |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
Very nice pick up  Curious, do we know for sure that these are actually tetradrachms? I know that Azes issued a tet that was reasonably debased, did the later Indo-scythians, Kushans et al just debase the silver right out of it? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Nice addition to your Indo's, Ron, with some interesting symbolism.
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Thanks Steve and Bob, the symbolism is what drew me to the coin. Steve as far as I have been able to find out by the time these coins appeared there was no silver contend but they were approximately the same weight as the debased silver earlier issues.
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Moderator
United States
34426 Posts |
great post Ron!
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
Very informative... congrats on the pick up, thanks for the post.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1118 Posts |
echizebto, I do not post in the ancient section as much as I should but as I build my Sasanian collection I always look forward to reading what you and Bob post about the Parthians and the Elymais. This coin is so neat I may have to look at getting one myself.
For those interested the Acts of Thomas was left on the cutting room floor as the Bible was standardized. The Acts of Thomas is considered part of the New Testament apocrypha. Here is a verse mentioning Sases:
The Second Act: Concerning his coming unto the king Gundaphorus.
17 Now when the apostle was come into the cities of India with Abbanes the merchant, Abbanes went to salute the king Gundaphorus, and reported to him of the carpenter whom he had brought with him. And the king was glad, and commanded him to come in to him. So when he was come in the king said unto him: What craft understandest thou? The apostle said unto him: The craft of carpentering and of building. The king saith unto him: What craftsmanship, then, knowest thou in wood, and what in stone? The apostle saith: In wood: ploughs, yokes, goads, pulleys, and boats and oars and masts; and in stone: pillars, temples, and court-houses for kings. And the king said: Canst thou build me a palace? And he answered: Yea, I can both build and furnish it; for to this end am I come, to build and to do the work of a carpenter.
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Thanks David and Harmonica, The more I learn about these coins the more of them I want to add more to my collection. These kingdoms had more contact with the Western world than I thought until I start to research them.
Harmonica, thanks from adding the passage from the Acts of Thomas.
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Pillar of the Community
 Spain
2752 Posts |
Nice coin Thanks for the write up and sharing it,really interesting. Saludos Paul |
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
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Moderator
United States
34426 Posts |
Ron, thanks for the tip. I'm going to give them a try!
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Valued Member
New Zealand
292 Posts |
Very nice coin Echizento congrats |
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Replies: 12 / Views: 3,044 |
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Posted 11/12/2016 6:57 pm
