A Copper Hoard of the Great Kushans in the Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, University of Peshawar, Pakistan

Abstract

The reserve collection of the Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Museum of Archaeology and
Ethnology, University of Peshawar (hereafter SSAQ Museum) houses a hoard of 222 copper coins. The main part of this hoard belongs to the Great Kushan period. These coins are attributed to Vima Kadphises, Kanishka-I and Huvishka. They are known in different weight units i.e., tetradrachm, reduced tetradrachm and drachm. The heavy weight coins of the Kushans in this hoard were issued from the main mint (probably in Bactria?) and small coins produced at a subsidiary mint located somewhere in the southern/eastern part of the Kushan Empire. Apparently, the hoarding of this collection started in the heydays of Huvishka and deposited somewhere in the later part of his rule. In this regard, the deposition of the present hoard can be placed in the last quarter of the second century CE (or a bit later). It also comprises few coins of Azes-II, the last Indo-Scythian ruler. These coins might have been in circulation when the hoard was deposited.