Kushana Coins from Bangladesh: A Preliminary Study

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Journal of Bengal Art, Vol. 19, 2014, 113-122

8 Kushana Coins from Bangladesh: A Preliminary Study Bulbul Ahmed & Mohammad Abu Al Hasan Introduction Archaeological sources are the most important and authentic evidences to reveal the past. Among the archaeological sources coin is more valuable one and can play an important role to reconstruct the history. The study of coin i.e. numismatics provides a wide range of information regarding the political, administrative, social, economic, religious and cultural life of a state or a community in a certain period (Maity, 1970: 1-13; Sharan, 1972: 49-64). Numismatic studies also support and exemplify the history known from other sources. A large number of ancient coins were discovered from all over Bangladesh. Till today, the significance of these coins is a less considered issue in our country. The systematic study of these coins can be a great source to reveal the ancient history and culture of Bangladesh. Among the ancient coins found in Bangladesh the present research will throw light only on the Kushana coins. History of the Kushanas The Kushanas was the branch of a nomadic tribe, known to Chinese as Yueh-chi. This tribe left their home-land on the Chinese frontier early in the 2nd century BC and arrived in the Oxus region and settled at ancient Bactria. After having dwelt there for about a century, a prince of the Kue-shuang (Kushana) branch of the Yueh-Chis, invaded Parthia or the parts of the Indo-Parthian realm in Afghanistan, occupied central Afghanistan, Gandhara and lower Swat valley (Gupta, 1969: 24). During the 1st and early 2nd centuries AD the Kushans expanded rapidly across the northern part of the Indian sub-continent at least as far as Varanasi. The notable rulers of this dynasty were Kujala Kadphises, Vima Kadphises, Kanishka I, Vasishka, Huvishka, Vasudeva I and Vasudeva II. The rule of the Kushans linked the seagoing trade of the Indian Ocean with the commerce of the Silk Road through the Indus Valley. At the pick-time of the dynasty, the Kusahns ruled a territory that extended to the Aral Sea through present-day Uzbekistan (Mukherjee, 1982: Pl. V). The Kushana Empire declined from the 3rd century and fell to the Sassanin and the Gupta Empires. General Features of Kushana Coins The Kushanas introduced gold coins in the sub-continent for the first time. The introducing of inscription as well as ‘royal tamghas’ (monograms) of the kings (Plate 8.1) on coins were the most significant and innovative ideas in Kushana numismatics. Vima Kadphises issued the earliest gold currency of the Kushans. The obverse of the Kushana gold coins (king at the altar) was probably

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influenced by the coins of the Imperial Parthian ruler Gotarzes II of Iran. Kaniska I and Huviska subsequently issued large number of die-struck gold coins of many varieties in a range of denominations (Chakravarti, 2003: 58-69). Depicting of God and Goddess of Iranian, Babylonian, Graeco-Egyptian and Indian origin on the reverse became a popular fashion on Kushana coins. These deities are- Helio, Salene, Hephaistos, Erakilo (Heracles), Mihira (sun god), Elios (sun god), Mioro (Mithra), Mao (moon god), Oado (the wind god), Orlagno (the national lord of the Iranians in arms), Luthraspa (the gardian of the health of animals), Athsho (the fire god), Mazdah (the supreme Zoroastrian deity), Nana (nature goddess of Ishtar), Ardoksho (a goddess, counterpart of Indian Lakshmi; the spirit of fortune), Oesho (Bhavesa or Havesa or Shiva), Ommo (Uma), Kartikeya, Maasena, Vasudeva, Boddo (Buddha) etc. (Vanaja, 1983: 14).

Miaos Vima Kadphises Kanishka I Huvishka Vasudeva

Plate 8.1: Royal Tamghas (Monograms) of the Kushana Kings (Source Mukherjee, 1982: 77) The gold and copper coins of the Kushanas from Vima Kadphises onwards were struck based on Greek weight standard. The denominations of that time were tetra-drachms, di-drachms, and drachms. The denomination system introduced by Vima Kadphises was replaced in subsequent reign. The later issues of the Kushanas followed the metrology of Roman ‘Denarii’ or ‘Aureii’. Generally the weight of Kushana gold coins varies from 7.65 to 7.90 gm. The popular denominations were Dinara and Ardho-Dinara. The term Dinara originated from Roman gold coin ‘Dinarii’ (Vanaja, 1983: 13). Kushana Coins found in Bangladesh A good number of gold coins and a lot of copper coins of the Kushanas have been discovered from Bengal. Kushana copper coins are mainly found in the districts of 24-Parganas, Burdwan, Midnapore and Bankura of West Bengal. These copper coins are imitated issues and commonly known as ‘Radha-Kushana coins’. Scholars in the field of numismatics inference that Kushana coins began to be imitated in the lower region of West Bengal in the days of Kanishka I or shortly after him, and the territory concerned soon developed a currency system of its own incorporating Kushana devices and a different weight system (Mukherjee, 1992: 162). In Bangladesh, Kushana coins are mainly found in the Bogra and Comilla regions. A number of scholars (Beveridge, 1878: 88-95; Majumdar, 1932: 128, Pl. I; Majumdar, 1935: 255-258; Ahmed,

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1975: 6; Lahiri, 1985: 69-86; Hossain, 1987: 6 and Rahman, 2007: 108-119) have sporadically mentioned about the Kushana coins found in the territory of Bangladesh. But it was Shariful Islam of Bangladesh National Museum who carried out the first professional analysis on Kushana coins found in Bangladesh. Though his research works (Islam, 2008; Islam, 2012) are not published yet. Recently research works on Kushana coins found in Bangladesh has been carried out by Bulbul Ahmed (Ahmed, 2011; Ahmed, 2012), the first author of this article. According to Shariful Islam about four hundred Kushana coins are now preserved in the cabinet of Bangladesh National Museum (Islam, 2012). In 2013 Taka Museum of Bangladesh Bank has collected 34 Kushana copper coins through purchase. But most of them are so much corroded to decipher their legends. Coins of Kujula Kadphises Kujula Kadphises (ca. first half of 1st century AD) was the first Kushana ruler of India. He invaded Anxi (Indo-Parthia), and took the Gaofu (Kabul) region. He also defeated the whole of the kingdoms of Puda (Paktiya) and Jibin (Kapisha and Gandhara). Kujula issued an extensive series of coins following the style of the coins of last Bactrian ruler Hermaeus. All these coins are bilingual, having Greek inscription on the obverse and Kharoshthi on the reverse (Gupta, 1969: 25). Only five copper coins of Kujula Kadphises are recorded (Plate 8.2 & 8.3) from Bangladesh (Ahmed, 2012). Of these coins three are obtained from the Comilla region (Islam, 2008). The find spot/s of the rest two coins is/are not known. Coins of Vima Kadphises Vima Kadphises, grandson of Kujula Kadphises ruled the Kushan Empire around 90–100 AD. Vima Kadphises added to the Kushana territory by his conquests in Afghanistan and north-west Pakistan. He issued an extensive series of coins. He was the first to introduce gold coins in India, in addition to the existing copper and silver coins. The obverse of Vima’s coins contain an elderly man of a heavy body in various attitudes— seated on a couch, seated cross-legged, seated at a jharokha (window); riding an elephant; driving in a biga; holding a sceptre; standing sacrificing at an altar. This latter type, i.e., standing at an altar, appears only on copper. This introduced a motif, which became the basic theme of the royal portrait on the later Kushana coins (Gupta, 1969: 25). The reverse of the coins of Vima, Siva with his long trident and sometimes accompanied by bull is invariably seen. On a few coins Siva is represented by his trident-battle-axe. Another notable thing in Kushana numismatics is that Vima was the last ruler who issued bilingual coins bearing Greek and Kharoshthi inscriptions (Gupta, 1969: 26). Seventeen copper coins (Plate 8.4 & 8.5) of same type of Vima Kadphises have been discovered from Bangladesh. Of these coins seven coins are collected from the Comilla region (Islam, 2008). In recent time, ten copper coins of Vima have been reported by Ahmed (Ahmed, 2012). The find spot/s of these ten coins is/are not known. Coins of Kanishka I Kanishka I (ca. 78-100/101 AD) was the fifth Kushana king. According to the Rabatak inscription Kanishka ruled a huge territory; virtually all of northern India, south to Ujjain and Kundina and east beyond Pataliputra of Bihar.

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Kanishka I issued mainly gold and copper coins. Silver coins were also issued in a small number. The obverses of the gold and copper coins contain almost identical features: king standing dressed with long tunic shalwar, mantle held by double clasp at the chest and a low round cap, sacrificing at an altar and holding a spear in his left hand. The reverse does not contain any particular figure. A number of deities of Greek, Iranian, Zoroastrian, Istar and Indian origin were introduced on the reverse of Kanishka’s coins. In the early days, Kanishka issued coins with Greek legend: Basileos Basilion Kanishkou. But in the later period mid-Iranian (Bactrian) or Khotanese-Saka was introduced as the language of legend: Shaonano Shao Kaneshki Koshano. Gold, silver and copper coins of Kanishka I have been discovered from Bangladesh. These are reported from Bogra (Majumdar, 1932: 128, Pl. I) and Comilla (Islam, 2008). Nine gold coins (Plate 8.6) of Kanishka I have been discovered from the Comilla region (Islam, 2008). In recent time one silver (Plate 8.7) and two copper (Plate 8.8 & 8.9) coins of Kanishka I are reported by Ahmed (Ahmed, 2012). Coins of Huvishka After Kanihka I, Huvishka (ca. 102/103-137/138 AD) became the Kushan Emperor. His rule was a period of retrenchment and consolidation for the Empire. In particular he devoted time and effort early in his reign to the exertion of greater control over the city of Mathura. Huvishka issued gold, silver and copper coins. Profile bust of the king is the common feature of the obverse of his gold coins. Like the coins of Kanishka I, a number of deities are found on the reverse of Huvishka’s coins. He added a number of new deities also. The legend on the coins is uniformly Shao Nano Shao Oeshki Koshano. In Bangladesh, only four gold coins of Huvishka are reported from the Comilla region (Islam, 2008). In 2013, Noorul Islam, a famous coin collector of Dhaka has collected one gold coin of Huvishka from the same region (Plate 8.10). Coins of Vasudeva I Vasudeva I (ca. 141/42 or 144/45-175/76 AD) was the last Emperor of the ‘Great Kushanas’. The end of his rule coincides with the invasion of the Sassanids as far as north-western India, and the establishment of the Indo-Sassanids from around 240 AD. Vasudeva I issued coins adopting the obverse device of Kanishka I, i.e. a standing king in profile, sacrificing at the altar. The reverse devices were reduced to only three deities: Nana, Oesho and Vasudeva. Among them Oesho is quite common. The Bactrian legend on the coins is commonly Shao Nano Shao Bazodeo Koshano. In Bangladesh, gold coins of Vasudeva I are reported from Bogra district in 1932 (Majumdar, 1932: 128). In 2012, Shariful Islam informed us about six gold coins of Vasudeva I. These coins were collected from the Comilla region and now preserved in the Bangladesh National Museum (Islam, 2012) (Plate 8.11).

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Legends Obverse:

Reverse:

Issuer:

In the right— Hermaios-style diademed bust, blundered Greek legend around. Hercules standing facing, holding club and lion skin Kharoshti inscription around (traces of legend). Kujula Kadphises Date: ca. first half of 1st century AD

Plate 8.2: Metal: Copper, Weight: 6.05 gm, Denomination: Tetradrachm, Dimension: 19.18x18.09x4.46 mm, Provenance: Not known, Identification Ref: www.coinindia.com/ Kujula-Her 220.01.JPG Purchased in Dhaka in 2004, Noorul Islam Collection. Legends Obverse:

Reverse:

Issuer:

In the right— Hermaios-style diademed bust, blundered Greek legend around. Hercules standing facing, holding club (not visible) and lion skin Blundered Kharoshti legend around Kujula Kadphises, Date: ca. first half of 1st century AD

Plate 8.3: Metal: Copper, Weight: 6.05 gm, Denomination: Tetradrachm, Dimension: 19.18x18.09x4.46 mm, Provenance: Mainamoti region, Identification Ref: National Comilla district, Purchased in Dhaka in 2004, Noorul Delhi, Acc. No. 59.152/2672. Islam Collection.

Museum,

Legends Obverse:

Reverse:

Plate 8.4: Metal: Copper, Weight: 9.03 gm, Denomination: Tetradrachm, Dimension: 21.18x20.09x4.66 mm, Provenance: Mahasthan region, Bogra district., Purchased in Dhaka in 2006, Noorul Islam Collection.

Issuer:

In the centre—Bust of the king holding sceptre. Monogram ‘three-pronged tamgha behind’ left (partly visible). In the centre King riding on horse holding whip in his right hand. Monogram ‘three-pronged tamgha behind’ in the right field. Greek legend ‘Basiley Basileon Soter Megas’ (partly visible). Soter Megas (Vima Kadphises) Date: ca. 1st century AD.

Identification Ref: National Museum, Delhi, Acc. No. 63.1/2462.

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Legends Obverse:

In the centre— King standing facing, sacrificing at fire altar at left, and other features are so eroded to identity. Reverse: In the centre Siva standing facing, holding trident (partly visible), bull Nandi right behind, blundered legend around. Monogram (partly visible) in Plate 8.5: Metal: Copper, Weight: 15.41 gm, the left field. Denomination: Tetradrachm, Dimension: Issuer: Issuer: Vima Kadphises, Date: ca. 27.50x26.55x3.88 mm, Provenance: Mahasthan 105-130 AD region, Bogra district, Purchased in Dhaka in 2007, Identification Ref: National Museum, Delhi, Noorul Islam Collection. Acc. No. 85.86/66. Legends Obverse: Standing to left wearing helmet and diadem, clad in coat and trousers, his left hand holding a spear and his right hand placed over an altar in the attitude of making offering. The legend is in Greek scripts but in Saka language: Shaonano Shao Kaneshki Koshano. Plate 8.6: Metal: Gold, Weight: 7.39 gm, Reverse: Denomination: Dinara, Provenance: Not known, Bangladesh National Museum Collection, Acc. No.: BNM 1977.724 Issuer:

Plate 8.7: Metal: Silver, Weight: 4.15 gm, Denomination: Ardho-Dinara, Dimension: 19.52x18.43x2.21mm, Provenance: Unearthed as a treasure trove from the bank of the river Meghna at Bhulta Tetia, Narayanganj district at the time of constructing Dhaka-Chittagong highway in 1953, Noorul Islam Collection.

Goddess standing to right. Legend in Greek script Ardokhsho in the left field.Monogram in the right field. Kanishka I, Date: ca. 78-100/101 AD.

Identification Ref: Mukherjee 1990a: Plate IA.21 Legends Obverse: Bearded King standing to left sacrificing at altar with his right hand; left hand holding a bow Bactrian legends Shaonano Shao Kaneshki Koshano (partly visible) Reverse: Nana standing to right holding sceptre. Legend Nana. Monogram in the right field.

Issuer:

Kanishka I, Date: ca. 78-100/101AD

Identification Ref: National Museum, Delhi, Acc. No. 59.152/2716.

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Legends Obverse:

Reverse:

Crowned, diademed king standing facing, holding spear and sacrificing at altar at left, legend King Kanishka in Bactrian script in the upper right field. Four-armed Oesho (Shiva?) standing facing, head turned to left, nimbate, holding various attributes, Bactrian legend Oesho, in the right and tamgha in the left field. Kanishka I, Date: ca. 78-

Plate 8.8: Metal: Copper, Weight: 17.13 gm, Denomination: Tetradrachm, Dimension: 28.31x23.54x3.46 mm, Provenance: Mainamoti Issuer: region, Comilla district, Purchased in Dhaka in 2007, 100/101AD. Noorul Islam Collection. Identification Ref: National Museum, Delhi, Acc. No. 60.1165/3901. Legends Obverse:

Crowned, diademed king standing facing, holding spear and other features are so eroded to indentify. The monogram is partly visible on the left field. Reverse: Buddha seated facing on a meditation platform; Blundered Bactrian legend Plate 8.9: Metal: Copper, Weight: 14.13 gm, is visible on the upper left margin, Denomination: Tetradrachm, Dimension: Issuer: Kanishka I, Date: ca. 7824.97x23.50x4.80 mm, Provenance: Not known, 100/101AD Purchased in Dhaka in 2008, Noorul Islam Identification Ref: Sharma 1990: Plate X.2 Collection. Legends Obverse:

Reverse:

Plate 8.10: Metal: Gold, Weight: 6.99 gm, Denomination: Dinara, Dimension: Issuer: 20.82x20.52x1.86 mm, Provenance: Mainamati region, Comilla district, Purchased in Dhaka in 2012, Noorul Islam Collection.

King to left, rising from clouds, holding a royal sceptre in right hand and an ankusha in left hand. Bactrian legend Shaonano Shao Ooeshki Koshano (partly visible). Moon Godd standing to left. Legend in Greek script Mao (partly visible) in the right field and monogram in the left field. Huvishka, Date: 137/138 AD

ca.

102/103-

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Legends Obverse:

King nimbate, standing to left on a circular mat, having a sword tied to his waist holding a trident in left hand and sacrificing at an alter by right hand, the alter placed in front of a trident. Bactrian legend Shaonano Shao Bazodeo Koshano (partly visible)

Plate 8.2: Metal: Gold, Weight: Gold, Weight: 7.87 Reverse: gm, Denomination: Dinara, Provenance: Godagari, Rajshahi, Bangladesh National Museum Collection, Accession No. BNM 1966.404

Shiva standing with bull. Legend Oesho; middle in the right field and monogram in the upper left field.The total composition is boarded by a circle of dots. Vasudeva I, Date: ca. 141/42 or 144/45-175/76 AD

Issuer:

Discussion The discoveries of a good number of Kushana coins from Bengal arises question on the political supremacy of the Kushanas over Bengal. Scholars are not of the same opinion on the matter of the Kushan expansion in Eastern India, especially in Bengal. SK Bose thought that the wave of Kushan conquest rolled far to the east of Mathura and Banaras and did not stop before it swept Bihar and Bengal (Bose, 1937-38: 729). Adris Banerji suggested that Bihar, Orissa and possibly Bengal were included for a time within the Kushan Empire (Banerji, 1951: 107-109). But they have not presented enough evidence to strengthen this hypothesis. Sarjug Prasad Singh tried to prove Kushan domination in Orissa and Bihar in his research work (Singh, 1973: 127-141). But in the case of Bengal he has used the word ‘possibility’ which simply meaning that he is not sure about it. BN Mukherjee has gone one step forward to prove that Bengal was under Kushan rule (Mukherjee, 1990b: 23-39). Beside numismatic evidences, he has examined various motifs, sculptures and relics, terracotta figurines and potsherd bearing Brahmi and Kharoshti inscription found from West Bengal and suggested on their basis that Bengal was under the Kushana rule for a certain period. Shariful Islam supports the hypothesis of Mukherjee. Islam also presents several seals from the Bogra region regarding his opinion (Islam, 2008; Islam, 2012). The discoveries of a good number of Kushan coins from Bengal lead us to draw a conclusion about the suzerainty of the Kushana over Bengal. But unfortunately nothing has been found so far that can definitely settle this issue. Actually, there are no inferences of any political control of the Kushana over Bengal. Coins, as we know, travel by way of trade far beyond the limits of the kingdom where they issued. May be they had economical relations with Bengal. It seems that Kushana coins began to be imitated in the lower regions of West Bengal in the days of Kanishka I or shortly after him, the territory concerned soon developed a currency system of its own incorporating Kushana devices and a different weight system.

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Acknowledgement We would like to thank Noorul Islam, a famous coin collector, Dhaka for facilitating us to analysis his rich collection for the present study. We would like to thank Shariful Islam of Bangladesh National Museum for deciphering the legends of some coins. References Ahmed, Bulbul. (2012) Documentation of Kushana Coins found in Bangladesh. [Presentation]. Numismatics. Jahangirnagar University, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Savar, Dhaka, 10 September 2012. Ahmed, Bulbul. (2011) Kushana Coins from Bangladesh: A Numismatic Study. In The 2nd International Congress of Bengal Studies, jointly organized by University of Dhaka and Bangla Academy. University of Dhaka, 19 December 2011. Ahmed, Nazimuddin (1975) Mahasthan. Dhaka: Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Bangladesh. Banerji, A. (1951) Kushan Expansion of Eastern India. Journal of the Numismatic Society of India, XIII. p. 107-109. Beveridge, H. (1878) The Antiquities of Bagura. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. XLVII (I). p. 88-95. Bose, SK. (1937-38) A Fresh Hoard of So-called Puri-Kushan Coins. Indian Culture. III. p. 729. Chakravarti, Ranabir. (2003) Coins. In Islam, Sirajul (ed.) Banglapedia. vol. 3. Dhaka. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. p. 58-69. Gupta, P.L. (1991) Coins. 3rd Edition. New Delhi: National Book Trust. Hossain, M. (1987) Pundranagara: An Appraisal on the Basis of Coins, Sculptures and Pottery found at the Site. Unpublished. MA thesis. India: University of Baroda. Islam, Shariful. (2008) Newly Discovered Kushan Coins and the Connecting Question of their Expansion in Bengal. In Seminar of Bangladesh Historical Association and Department of Archaeology. Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka. Islam, Shariful. (2012) Kushana Age in Bengal in the Light of unpublished Numismatic Sources [Presentation]. Numismatics. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, 19 May 2012. Lahiri, Bela (1985) A Survey of the Pre-Muhammad Coins of Bengal. Journal of the Varendra Research Museum. Vol.7. p. 69-86. Maity, S.K. (1970) Early Indian Coins and Currency System. New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal. Majumdar, NG. (1935) (Reprint in 1990). Indian Museum, Calcutta, Report for the Year 1932-33 in Archaeological Survey of India Annual Report 1933-34, 255-258. Delhi: Swati Publications. Majumdar, NG. (1932) Three Kushan Coins from North Bengal. Journal of Asiatic Society of Bengal. XXVIII. P.128. Pl. I. Mukherjee, BN. (1982) Kushana Silver Coinage, Calcutta: Indian Museum, Calcutta.

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Mukherjee, B.N. (1990a) The Indian Gold: An Introduction to the Cabinet of the Gold Coins in the Indian Museum. Calcutta: Indian Museum. Mukherjee, BN. (1990b) Kharoshti and Kharoshti-Brahmi Inscriptions in West Bengal. Indian Museum Bulletin. XXV. p. 23-39. Mukherjee, BN. (1992) Kushana Coins in Bengal – an Appraisal. In Macdowall, DW., Sharma, Sativa & Sanjay Garg (eds.), Indian Numismatics, History, Art and Culture Essays in the Honour of Dr. P.L. Gupta. vol. 1. Delhi: Agam Kala Prakashan. p. 161-165. Rahman, Sufi Mostafizur. (2007) Coins and Currency System. In Rahman, Sufi Mostafizur (ed.). Archaeological Hetitage. Cultural Survey of Bangladesh. Series 1. Dhaka: Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. p. 108-119. Sharma, Savita (1990) Early Indian Symbols—Numismatic Evidence. Delhi: Agam Kala Prakashan. Sharan, Mahesh Kumar (1972) Tribal Coins— A Study. Delhi: Abinav Publications. Singh, Sarjug Prasad (1973) Numismatic Evidence of Kushan Marunda Rule in Eastern India. Journal of the Numismatic Society of India. XXXV. p. 127-141. Vanaja, R. (1983) Indian Coinage. Delhi: National Museum. Coin India. [Online] Available from: http://coinindia.com/Kujula-Her 220.01.JPG [Accessed: 16 April 2014]