{"product_id":"kushan-vasudeva-i-copper-unit-lord-shiva-oesho-sacred-nandi-bull-c-190-230-ce-1-800-years-old","title":"Kushan Vasudeva I Copper Unit – Lord Shiva Oesho \u0026 Sacred Nandi Bull – c. 190–230 CE – 1,800+ Years Old","description":"\u003cp\u003eAncient Kushan Empire – Vasudeva I\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCopper Unit | Shiva Oesho \u0026amp; Nandi Type\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA fascinating copper coin of Vasudeva I, one of the later great rulers of the Kushan Empire. Dating to approximately c. 190–230 CE, this important issue features the Kushan king performing a ritual sacrifice on the obverse and the powerful Hindu deity Oesho, generally identified with Lord Shiva, standing alongside the sacred bull Nandi on the reverse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe depiction of Lord Shiva and Nandi makes this type especially attractive for Indian collectors. Vasudeva I's coinage is particularly significant for the prominent place given to Shiva worship in the imperial imagery of the Kushan Empire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOBVERSE:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe obverse depicts King Vasudeva I standing facing left, crowned and diademed, performing a ritual offering over a fire altar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe king is shown holding royal and religious attributes, including a trident or sceptre depending on the variety. The standing king and sacrificial altar are characteristic features of Vasudeva's Kushan coinage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eREVERSE:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reverse depicts Oesho, generally identified with Lord Shiva, standing facing, accompanied by the sacred bull Nandi behind him.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Bactrian legend identifies the deity as Oesho\/Wesho, while the Kushan tamgha appears in the field.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe combination of Shiva and Nandi is one of the most important and recognisable religious designs of late Kushan coinage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCOIN DETAILS:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEmpire: Kushan Empire\u003cbr\u003eRuler: Vasudeva I\u003cbr\u003eReign: c. 190–230 CE\u003cbr\u003ePeriod: 3rd Century CE\u003cbr\u003eDenomination: Copper Unit\u003cbr\u003eMetal: Copper \/ Copper Alloy\u003cbr\u003eObverse: Vasudeva I standing and sacrificing at a fire altar\u003cbr\u003eReverse: Oesho (Lord Shiva) standing with sacred bull Nandi\u003cbr\u003eLegend: Bactrian\u003cbr\u003eScript: Greek script used for the Bactrian language\u003cbr\u003eSymbol: Kushan Tamgha\u003cbr\u003eAge: Approximately 1,800–1,835 years old\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHISTORICAL BACKGROUND:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVasudeva I was one of the final major rulers of the great Kushan Empire. During the Kushan period, vast territories across Central Asia, Afghanistan, present-day Pakistan and northern India were connected through political power and major trade routes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Kushan Empire was famous for its multicultural character, and its coinage provides remarkable evidence of this cultural diversity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile earlier Kushan rulers portrayed a wide variety of Greek, Iranian, Central Asian and Indian deities, the coinage of Vasudeva I is particularly important for the increasing prominence of Oesho, widely associated with Lord Shiva.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLORD SHIVA \u0026amp; NANDI:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reverse of this coin is especially significant for Indian religious and numismatic history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOesho is generally identified with Lord Shiva, one of the principal deities of Hindu tradition. His association with the sacred bull Nandi creates one of the earliest and most historically important imperial representations of Shiva and his divine companion on ancient coinage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe presence of Shiva and Nandi on a Kushan imperial coin demonstrates the deep interaction between Central Asian ruling traditions and the religious culture of the Indian subcontinent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNUMISMATIC SIGNIFICANCE:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis coin beautifully represents an important transformation in Kushan religious imagery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt combines:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e• Vasudeva I performing a royal ritual sacrifice\u003cbr\u003e• A fire altar and trident symbolism\u003cbr\u003e• Oesho, identified with Lord Shiva\u003cbr\u003e• The sacred bull Nandi\u003cbr\u003e• Bactrian language and script\u003cbr\u003e• The distinctive Kushan tamgha\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Shiva and Nandi reverse is among the most historically significant and recognisable designs of Vasudeva I's coinage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCOLLECTOR'S APPEAL:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn excellent addition to collections specialising in:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKushan Empire Coins\u003cbr\u003eVasudeva I Coinage\u003cbr\u003eLord Shiva Coins\u003cbr\u003eNandi Bull Coins\u003cbr\u003eAncient Hindu Religious Coinage\u003cbr\u003eKushan Copper Coins\u003cbr\u003eBactrian Legend Coins\u003cbr\u003eAncient Indian Coins\u003cbr\u003eCentral Asian Numismatics\u003cbr\u003e3rd Century CE Coinage\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA remarkable ancient Kushan copper coin, approximately 1,800 years old, featuring Vasudeva I and the powerful depiction of Lord Shiva Oesho with his sacred bull Nandi — an exceptional connection between Kushan imperial history and early Hindu religious iconography.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gupta Coins","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48631091265748,"sku":"A00045","price":999.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0840\/5028\/0660\/files\/Picsart_26-08-09_20-25-01-805-Photoroom_1.jpg?v=1786618074","url":"https:\/\/guptacoins.com\/products\/kushan-vasudeva-i-copper-unit-lord-shiva-oesho-sacred-nandi-bull-c-190-230-ce-1-800-years-old","provider":"Gupta Coins","version":"1.0","type":"link"}