Lot 2617

Description

Kushan Empire, Kanishka I, (c.A.D. 232-260), gold stater, (7.9 grams), obv. king standing, head turned left, holding tall standard in left hand, sacrificing with right hand over cylindrical altar, flames (?) emanate from his coat, legend around, rev. Goddess Nana nimbate, standing to right, holding a short staff tipped withthe protome of a horse, behind legend upwards NANA PAO, (M.3062, cf.Gobl 60). Good extremely fine and rare.

A very similar specimen was present in the Dr. Lawrence Brilliant Collection of Kushan gold, in the Spink-Taisei, Singapore sale 12. Nana is the deity of nature and fertility. The additional title PAO = Shao is the cognate to the Iranian title Shah. The obverse is the standard representation of Kanishka on his coinage. He boasts a long beard, wears a long-sleeved short coat, and a conical cap, a thin coat on top is blowing in the winds.