Lot 3934

Description

Kushan Coinage, Kanishka I, (A.D. 232-260), Taxila - Pushkalavati Major Southern series, copper unit (tetradrachm), (14.4 grams), obv. king standing facing, head to left, sacrificing over altar, legend in Greek around, rev. Buddha seated in the lotus position upon a couch or throne, holding his right hand in the gesture of reassurance and holding the water-jug in his left hand which rests on his thigh, around traces of legend MHTPAY O BOY**D*[O] on left and right, (M.-, Gobl 791, cf.791.3 for very similar reverse die). Fine/nearly very fine and very rare.

This famous Buddha reverse is most important as it is the earliest numismatic appearance of the Maitreya, the future Buddha, portrayed in contemporary sculpture just as on this coin. For a fuller discussion see the article by Cribb in the Numismatic Digest Volume 8. This example is finer than a similar piece in the Dr. Lawrence Brilliant Collection in the Spink-Taisei Singapore Sale 9.