Ons 232
Ons 232
Ons 232
Monogram B
All the issues with this monogram, with the exception of B3-4 have
the reverse field letters Ra and Ti as above.
Fig. 8. Dionysios Æ coin (B2-1) over-struck on A1-1
B1-1 and ¼ unit B1-3 are both very rare. Six specimens of B1-2, all
with similar wear to the illustrated coin, averaged 16.22 g. Fig. 11. Zoilos II square Æ coin (B3-2)
B3-2 As B1-2 but legends as last. 15.04 g [Chakwal 76]
Dionysios (c. 55 - 50 BCE)
All subsequent unit coins have the reverse field letters Pi and E
Apollophanes
Fig. 13. Apollophanes square Æ coin (B4-2)
B4-2 As B1-2 but legends as last. 12.72 g [PT]
Monogram C
This is a small series linked by the use of the same reverse field
letters but one unique variety bears an obverse monogram.
Strato Soter II
Types and legends as C3-1 Fig. 32. Zoilos II Æ coin (E3-2)
E3-2 As last but with elephant in obverse left field. 15.88 g
[Chakwal 68] Sometimes found overstruck on Apollodotos II coins.
Apollodotos II
Zoilos II
Crown type III (Fig. 10 & 12) Fig. 15. Kanishka Æ ½ unit Göbl 767 crown I
(22 mm, 8.14 g) BM-IOC.285
Alpha
Nu
Fig. 17. Varieties of Alpha and Nu on coinage of Kanishka I in
Mitchiner (1978) Fig. 19. Kanishka Æ unit Göbl 776/1-9 crown I
The above illustration of the letters Alpha and Nu in Mitchiner can (25.8 mm, 17.46 g, 12h) ⑩
lead to the impression that some of the cursive letters are smaller
and look like minuscule, but minuscules were not introduced at that
time. The central Nu might be a misinterpretation by him because
in my opinion it is just an engraving error if it is used top down. In
addition to the change in NANA the legend on the obverse was also
changed and shortened to the Bactrian spelling ÞAO KANHÞKI.
8 777/1, 3-6 38 43 - 49
35.7
Fig. 63. Kanishka Æ ½ unit Göbl 778
777/1, 3-6
9 2 50 - 51 (19.9-20.6 mm, 8.32 g, 12h
var. 1 & 2
10 805 9 52 - 58
9.8
11 805 var. 1 2 59
Fig. 64. Kanishka Æ ½ unit Göbl 778
Total number: 112 (22.0 mm, 8.14 g) ANS 1944.100.63636
Fig. 75. Kanishka Æ ¼ unit Göbl 806 - cha, MM
(15.7-16.4 mm, 4.2 g, 11h)
Fig. 68. Kanishka Æ ¼ unit Göbl 806 - cha, 1h, NM The Nu in coin Fig. 76 looks like a transition between the classical
(16.3-17.2 mm, 3.75g, 11h) Greek Nu and the form in the following coins Figs. 77 & 78.
JONS Vol. 232, Summer 2018 19
Fig. 76. Kanishka Æ ¼ unit Göbl 806 - cha, 1h, MM Fig. 83. Kanishka Æ ¼ unit Göbl 806 - cha, 1h, M
(19.3-18.7 mm, 4.30 g, 11h) (17.5-16.6 mm, 4.20 g, 11h)
The coins in Fig. 77 & 78 have both cursive Nu which look like an
H. The coins are similar to Göbl type 806/1 and probably to 806/8
also.
Fig. 82. Kanishka Æ ¼ unit Göbl 806 - cha, 1h Fig. 88. Kanishka Æ ¼ unit Göbl 806 var. 1 - cha, 1h, M
(18 mm, 4.6 g) BM 1922.0116.22 (18.0-19.3 mm, 4.77 g, 12h)
Fig 90: Kanishka Æ ¼ unit Göbl 806 var. 2 - cha, 1h Fig. 92. Kanishka Æ ¼ unit (Göbl) X806 - cha, 8h
(17 mm, 3.73 g) BM 1989.0507.1829) (17.0 mm, 2.93 g) ANS 1944.100.63017
A third variation of type 806 is shown in Fig. 91. NANA is reading
upwards but the first Nu is mirrored on a horizontal axis.
Fig. 114. Kanishka Æ ¼ unit Göbl 813 var.1 - cha, 1h ③ Fig: 36 52, 79 62 62, 91 63, 64
Fig. 119. Varieties of Alpha and Nu on Æ coinage of Kanishka I
It was stated for full units already that the high number of varieties
in writing NANA seems to be an indication for a lack in quality
assurance. It is also possible that the word NANA might have been
a challenge for an engraver in Gandhara who spoke the native
language Gandhari Prakrit and wrote in Kharoshthi script. I am not
Fig. 115. Kanishka Æ ¼ unit Göbl 813 var.1 - cha, 1h, NM a lingual expert, but if a local engraver was familiar with Kharoshthi
(17.8-18.7 mm, 4.48 g, 11h) script only the handling of the word NANA in Greek script might
The coin in Fig. 116 is heavily corroded, but OHÞO is engraved on have been tricky for him. Kharoshthi was written from right to left
the left side and it reads upwards, similar to the coins above. and the word NANA would consist of two signs (ña) only. NANA
reads in Gandhari Prakrit and the Kharoshthi ña looks like a
cursive Greek Nu top down. This is speculative, but it is obvious
that engravers might have had problems with NANA more than they
might have had with the names of other deities on Kanishka´s
bronze coinage.
Abbreviations
ACW Mitchiner 1978
Fig. 116. Kanishka Æ ¼ unit Göbl 813 var.1 AMS American Numismatic Soc. followed by inventory no.
(17 mm, 3.6 g) BM British Museum, followed by inventory no.
JONS Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society
An unpublished variety of type 813 is illustrated in Fig. 117. The h hour, starting point of legend with reference to o’clock
name of the deity Oesho reads upwards but the letters have been HM high magnetic (adhering force >249 g)
engraved the wrong way around. M magnetic (adhering force >149 – 249 g)
MM medium magnetic (adhering force >49 – 149 g)
LM low magnetic (adhering force >0 – 49 g)
NM non-magnetic (no influence by magnet))
Bibliography
Bracey, R., 2012, ‘The Mint Cities of the Kushan Empire’ in Sanches, F.
L. The City and the Coin in the Ancient and Early Medieval World,
Fig. 118. Kanishka Æ ¼ unit Göbl 813 - -, 9h, M pp. 117-129, Archaeopress Oxford.
(16.9-17.9 mm, 4.26 g, 1h) Falk, H., 2015, Kushan Histories Kushan Rule Granted by Nana’
Literary Sources and selected papers from a Symposium at Berlin,
The varieties of Göbl type 813/813A with the image of Oesho December 5th to 7th, 2013, Hempen Verlag Bremen.
shows that this group also needs a review in classification to avoid Gifford, E. H., 1903, Eusebii Pamphili Evangeliace Preparationis, libri
further confusion in identification and discussion. XV, Oxford.
Göbl, R., 1993, DONUM BURNS Die Kushanmünzen im Münzkabinett
Final Remarks Bern und die Chronologie, Vienna.
The idea of writing this paper began with some unpublished Göbl, R., 1984, System und Chronologie der Münzprägungen des
varieties of full units with the image of Nana on Kanishka’s bronze Kušānreiches, Wien.
coins in my collection. At first glance the variation of the two letters Gnoli, G., 2009, ‘Some Notes upon the Religious Significance of the
Alpha and Nu in writing NANA became obvious. Mitchiner (1978) Rabatak Inscription’, Exegisti monumenta Festschrift in honour of
has identify some varieties of Alpha and Nu, shown in Fig. 17, but Nicholas Sims-Williams, ed. W. Sundermann et al., Wiesbaden.
the illustrations of coins in this paper has produced many more Grenet, F. 2015, Kushan Histories ‘Zoroastrianism among the Kushan’,
varieties. An overview of the various Alpha and Nu, along with a Literary Sources and selected papers from a Symposium at Berlin,
reference to the respective illustration, is provided in Fig. 119. December 5th to 7th, 2013, Hempen Verlag Bremen.