This Copper Tetradrachm coin was issued under Emperor Vima Takto (Soter Megas, circa 55-100 AD), the 2nd emperor in Kushan Empire, India. Soter Megas issue. Taxila series. Green spots. Well preserved. The Numista rarity index of Numista-31109, is "65".
Kushan Empire was a syncretic empire, formed by the Yuezhi, in the Bactrian territories in the early 1st century. It spread to encompass much of modern-day Afghanistan, Pakistan and northern India. The Kushans were most probably one of five of branches of the Yuezhi confederation, an Indo-European nomadic people of possible Tocharian origin. They played an important role in the spread of Buddhism to Central Asia and China. The dynasty had diplomatic contacts with Roman Empire, Sassanian Empire, Akshumite Empire and Han Empire.
Vima Takto was a Kushan emperor who reigned c. 80-90 CE. He was long known as "The nameless King", since his coins only showed the legend "The King of Kings, Great Saviour", until the discovery of the Rabatak inscription helped connect his name with the title on the coins. His empire covered northwestern India and Bactoria towards China, where Kushan presence has been asserted in the Tarim Basin. During his reign, Kushan embassies were also sent to the Eastern Han imperial court. He is mentioned in the Chinese historical chronicle "Book of the Later Han (後漢書)", in relation to his father Kujula Kadphises (丘就卻).
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The Rabatak inscription was written on a rock, which was found in 1993 at the site of Rabatak (36.1494, 68.4041) in Afghanistan. The inscription relates to the rule of the Kushan Emperor Kanishka, and gives remarkable clues on the genealogy of the dynasty. the excerpt of the inscription is as follows. [12] he gave orders to make (them) for these kings: for King Kujula Kadphises (his) great [13] grandfather, and for King Vima Taktu, (his) granfather, and for King Vima Kadphises [14] (his) father, and also for himself, King Kanishka. Then, as the king of kings, the Devaputra |
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[The above explanations are quoted from Wikipedia on each item.]
I will attach a share free historical map of "Kushan territories and maximum extent of Kushan Control under Kanishka the Great". Peshawar City, one of the main
cities, is located at (34.0075, 71.5369) in the google location system. I will attach some photos of it from the google map system and from the google street view system.
Copper Tetradrachm coin. Green spots. Well preserved.
Provenance : Ex Mr. Scott Semans, Great Numismatist, in Washington State, USA in 1988.
Design : Diademed, radiate bust of the king, right. / Mounted horseman, holding whip, walking right.
Catalog number is MA-2950, Zeno-87390, and Numista-31109.
MA catalogue is "Oriental coins and their values, The Ancient & Classical World. 600 BC-AD 650", written by Michael Mitchiner, published by Hawkins Publications
in London in 1978.
Zeno on line catalogue is "Zeno. Ru - Oriental Coins Database".
Numista catalogue is "Coin Catalogue-Numista" , a unique platform to learn, collect, swap and share about numismatics.
Size : 21 x 20 x 2.5 mm. Weight : 8.14 gr.