Kushanas, Vima Kadphises (c.105-127 AD), Gold Dinar, 7.92g, Obverse: bust of the king facing left, wearing diadem and domed crown, emerging from the clouds, holding mace-scepter in the left hand, flames emerging from the left shoulder, tamgha in right field, legend BACILEYC OOH MO KADFICHC around. Reverse: Ithyphallic Shiva standing facing head left, holding a composite trident with an axe in the right hand, he-goat skin draped over left arm, tamgha to left, Buddhist triratana (“Three Jewels”) to right with Kharoshthi legend Maharajasa rajadirajasa sarvaloga isvarasa mahisvarasa hima kaphthisasa tradara(sa) around (Gobl 19).
Extremely Fine, Very Rare. Vima Kadphises was the first Kushan emperor to introduce gold coinage, in addition to the existing copper and silver coinage. Most of the gold seems to have been obtained through trade with the Roman Empire. The gold weight standard of approximately eight grams corresponds to that of Roman coins of the 1st century.
