{"product_id":"ancient-kushan-empire-vima-kadphises-copper-tetradrachm-shiva-nandi-16-75g-c-105-130-ce-copy-7","title":"Ancient Kushan Empire Vima Kadphises Copper Tetradrachm – Shiva \u0026 Nandi – 16.75g – c. 105–130 CE","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAncient Kushan Empire – Vima Kadphises\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCopper Tetradrachm | Shiva \u0026amp; Nandi Type | 16.75 g | c. 105–130 CE\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA remarkable \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003elarge copper tetradrachm of Vima Kadphises\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, one of the most important early rulers of the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKushan Empire\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Dating to approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e105–130 CE\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, this substantial 16.75-gram coin is a striking example of the cultural and religious synthesis represented in Kushan imperial coinage.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe coin combines \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHellenistic, Iranian and Indian artistic traditions\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, with the Kushan ruler depicted performing a religious offering on the obverse and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLord Shiva with Nandi\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e prominently represented on the reverse.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eObverse\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe obverse depicts \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKing Vima Kadphises standing facing left\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, dressed in royal attire and performing a ritual offering over a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003esmall fire altar\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe surrounding \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGreek legend\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e identifies the ruler and reflects the continuation of Hellenistic numismatic conventions within the Kushan Empire.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe image of the king personally performing a sacrifice is an important representation of royal authority and religious devotion.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReverse\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe reverse features \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLord Shiva standing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, holding his characteristic \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003etrident (trishula)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, with his sacred bull \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNandi\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e beside or behind him.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe surrounding \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKharosthi inscription\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e reads:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Maharaja rajadhiraja sarvaloga isvarasa mahesvarasa”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis conveys the ruler’s exalted titulature and association with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaheshvara (Shiva)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe appearance of Shiva and Nandi on imperial coinage is particularly significant and represents one of the earliest major manifestations of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eanthropomorphic Shiva imagery on Kushan coins\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCoin Details\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEmpire:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Kushan Empire\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRuler:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Vima Kadphises\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReign:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e c. 105–130 CE\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeriod:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 2nd Century CE\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDenomination:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Copper Tetradrachm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMetal:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Copper\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWeight:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 16.75 g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eObverse:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Vima Kadphises sacrificing at an altar\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReverse:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Shiva with trident and Nandi\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eObverse Legend:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Greek\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReverse Legend:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Kharosthi\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReligious Association:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Shiva \/ Maheshvara\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eType:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Standard Issue Copper Tetradrachm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHistorical Background\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVima Kadphises\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e was one of the most important early Kushan rulers and played a major role in consolidating Kushan power across Central Asia and northern India.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Kushan Empire occupied a strategically important position along major trade routes connecting \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCentral Asia, India and the wider ancient world\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Its coinage reflects this cosmopolitan environment, combining artistic and religious traditions from several cultures.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVima Kadphises is also particularly important in the development of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003elarge copper and gold Kushan coinage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, with substantial copper denominations circulating throughout the empire.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReligious \u0026amp; Cultural Significance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne of the most fascinating aspects of this coin is the deliberate combination of different cultural traditions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGreek legend and artistic conventions\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e on the obverse reflect the Hellenistic legacy of the region, while the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKharosthi inscription and depiction of Shiva and Nandi\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e demonstrate the strong incorporation of Indian religious traditions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe title \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaheshvara\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, meaning “Great Lord” and associated with Shiva, is especially significant. It reflects the Kushan ruler’s connection with the Shaivite religious tradition while demonstrating the remarkably diverse religious environment of the Kushan Empire.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNumismatic Significance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe large \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e16.75-gram copper denomination\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e represents the substantial monetary standards used by the Kushans. Such large copper coins were important for everyday commercial transactions and complemented the empire’s prestigious gold coinage.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe combination of a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ehistorical ruler, bilingual cultural traditions, Greek and Kharosthi legends, Shiva, Nandi and a large copper flan\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e gives this coin exceptional numismatic interest.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCollector’s Appeal\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn outstanding addition to collections specialising in:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKushan Empire Coinage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVima Kadphises Coins\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAncient Indian Coins\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAncient Copper Tetradrachms\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKushan Copper Coinage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShiva \u0026amp; Nandi Coins\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAncient Hindu Coinage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKharosthi Script Coins\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGreek-Legend Ancient Coins\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCentral Asian \u0026amp; Indian Ancient Coinage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAge of Coin:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1,900 years old\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA remarkable \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e16.75-gram Kushan copper tetradrachm of Vima Kadphises\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, showcasing the fascinating meeting of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKushan imperial power, Hellenistic tradition and ancient Indian Shaivite iconography\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e through the powerful depiction of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLord Shiva and Nandi\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gupta Coins","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48468712325332,"sku":"A00059","price":7999.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0840\/5028\/0660\/files\/Picsart_26-08-09_19-25-14-277-Photoroom_1.jpg?v=1786618065","url":"https:\/\/guptacoins.com\/products\/ancient-kushan-empire-vima-kadphises-copper-tetradrachm-shiva-nandi-16-75g-c-105-130-ce-copy-7","provider":"Gupta Coins","version":"1.0","type":"link"}