Lot 2212

Description

Huvishka, (c.A.D. 260-292), gold stater, (6.4 grams), obv. bust of upper part of king nimbate to left, wearing tall pointed leather helmet and chin-band and a tight-fitting tunic, holding a ribboned spear and a mace in his right hand, legend around, rev. A figure closely related to the Goddess Nana standing to right, holding a short staff tipped with the protome of a horse, wreath, behind legend downwards retrograde APDOXOD, (Gobl -, cf.M.3194 for legend similarity & 3195 for Nana). Some surface grazing, otherwise very fine and excessively rare and possibly the only known specimen.

Gobl in his marathon study of Kushan gold does not describe examples of this type. It would appear that this coin is a light weight contemporary copy produced by a fringe group who had close association with the Kushan kings. That moneyer copied genuine Kushan coins and mixed the devices on the reverse which to him was unintelligible. The reverse legend is a barbarous copy of Ardoxsho name. An interesting and important item.