{"product_id":"kanishka-i-copper-tetradrachm-solar-deity-mithra-miiro-kushan-empire-15-85g-c-127-140-ce-1-875-years-old","title":"Kanishka I Copper Tetradrachm – Solar Deity Mithra (Miiro) – Kushan Empire – 15.85g – c. 127–140 CE – 1,875+ Years Old","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eObverse:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe obverse depicts the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ecrowned and diademed King Kanishka standing facing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, holding a spear and performing a ritual sacrifice over a small fire altar positioned to his left.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA Bactrian\/Greek-derived royal legend surrounds the figure, identifying the Kushan ruler.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe sacrificial scene portrays Kanishka as a powerful ruler actively participating in a religious ceremony, a characteristic feature of his imperial coinage.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReverse:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe reverse depicts \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMithra (Miiro), the solar deity\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, standing facing left.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMithra is shown holding the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ehilt of a sword\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e with his left hand and extending his right hand in a gesture of blessing or benediction. A distinctive \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eradiate nimbus surrounds his head\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, symbolising his solar nature.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Bactrian legend \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“MIOPO \/ MIIPO”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e appears to the right, while the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKushan tamgha\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is placed to the left.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCoin Details:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRuler: Kanishka I\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDynasty: Kushan Empire\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReign: c. 127–150 CE\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeriod: 2nd Century CE\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDenomination: Copper Tetradrachm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMetal: Copper\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWeight: 15.85 g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDiameter: 25.71 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition: About Very Fine\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eObverse: Kanishka standing and sacrificing at altar\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReverse: Solar deity Mithra (Miiro) standing left\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReverse Legend: “MIOPO \/ MIIPO” in Bactrian\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eScript: Bactrian\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSymbol: Kushan Tamgha\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eType: King \u0026amp; Mithra \/ Miiro\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAge: Approximately 1,875–1,900 years old\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHistorical Background:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKanishka I\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e was one of the greatest rulers of the Kushan Empire, which at its height connected large parts of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCentral Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and northern India\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Kushans controlled important trade routes linking the Indian subcontinent with Central Asia and the wider Silk Road. Their coinage consequently reflects an extraordinary mixture of artistic and religious traditions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKanishka’s coins are particularly important because they portray a wide range of deities from Indian, Iranian, Central Asian and Hellenistic religious traditions. The present coin, featuring \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMithra\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, is an excellent example of this multicultural character.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMithra – The Solar Deity:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMithra\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, represented on Kushan coins by the Bactrian name \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMiiro\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, was an important deity of the ancient Iranian religious tradition associated with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003elight, the sun, truth and divine protection\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe most striking feature of his representation is the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eradiate nimbus around his head\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, visually identifying his solar character. His blessing gesture and sword further emphasise his divine and protective nature.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNumismatic Significance:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe large copper tetradrachm was an important denomination within the Kushan monetary system. The 15.85-gram weight and approximately 25.7 mm diameter place this specimen firmly within the substantial copper coinage associated with Kanishka’s reign. Museum examples of the same general type are recorded with comparable weights around 15.5–16.8 grams.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis coin is particularly interesting because it brings together:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• Kanishka’s royal portrait and ritual sacrifice\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• The Iranian solar deity Mithra \/ Miiro\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• Bactrian language and script\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• Kushan imperial tamgha\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• Hellenistic-influenced royal imagery\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• Religious traditions from across the Kushan world\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCollector’s Appeal:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn excellent addition to collections specialising in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKanishka I, Kushan Empire coinage, ancient copper tetradrachms, Mithra\/Miiro coins, Bactrian-script coins, ancient Central Asian coinage, Iranian religious iconography and 2nd-century CE Indian and Central Asian numismatics\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA remarkable \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e15.85-gram copper tetradrachm, approximately 1,875–1,900 years old\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, depicting one of the most important Kushan emperors alongside the radiant \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003esolar deity Mithra (Miiro)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — a superb representation of the cosmopolitan religious world of the Kushan Empire.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gupta Coins","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48475740078292,"sku":"A00040","price":1499.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0840\/5028\/0660\/files\/PXL_20260809_124920128-Photoroom-Photoroom.jpg?v=1786618025","url":"https:\/\/guptacoins.com\/products\/kanishka-i-copper-tetradrachm-solar-deity-mithra-miiro-kushan-empire-15-85g-c-127-140-ce-1-875-years-old","provider":"Gupta Coins","version":"1.0","type":"link"}