Kanishka Copper Coins in the National Museum of Pakistan, Karachi

Analysis & Classification

Abstract

The National Museum of Pakistan possesses a good collection of copper coins of the Kushan period. This collection contains ninety one coins of Kanishka I. Moreover, there are three gold coins of Kanishka in the same collection which are already published by the author along with other gold coins (Khan 2009). The copper coins of Kanishka are comparatively common and found in every public museum and private collection in Pakistan. These coins are usually known by their uniform design having standing figure of king on the obverse and figure of deity on the reverse. The early coins are inscribed with Greek legend and later with Bactrian. The legend is found on both sides; depicting name and title of the king on the obverse and name of deity on the reverse. The copper coins are known to have struck in three denominations i.e. large (tetradrachm, medium (didrachm) and small (drachm) units. These coins unanimously bear four-pronged tamga, modified version of Wima Kadphises tamga, on the reverse and on some examples it appears on the obverse too. The obverse of small coins also exhibit Kharosthi letter in the left field. Some pieces of small denominations bearing Kharosthi letters on obverse also show figure of king seated on a throne.