Lot 1044

Description

Huvishka, (c.A.D. 260-292), gold quarter stater or dinar, (1.95 grams), obv. bust of upper part of king nimbate to left, wearing rounded decorated leather helmet set with ornament and in loose-fitting tunic, holding a mace in his right hand, legend around, rev. God Miro (Mithra) standing to left, nimbate and radiate wearing diaphanous dhoti and holding short sword, behind legend downwards MIPO, (Gobl 161 [same reverse die], cf.M.3201). Nearly extremely fine and extremely rare.

Gobl knew of only two examples of this type with the spelling MIPO on the reverse. A similar type was present in the Dr. Lawrence Brilliant Collection of Kushan gold, in the Spink-Taisei, Singapore sale 9 (lot 46 but not as fine). Mirro or Mithra is the solar or sun goddess, the Mithra of the Irano-Aryan tradition.