INDIA, Kushan Empire. Vima Kadphises, circa 100-127/8. Tetradrachm (Bronze, 25 mm, 16.54 g, 1 h). ΒΑCIΛЄΥC BACIΛEⲰN CⲰTHP MEΓAC OOHMO KAΔΦΙCHC ('King of Kings, the Great Savior, Vima Kadphises' in Greek) Vima Kadphises standing facing, head to left, sacrificing over altar with his right hand; to right, club and tamgha; to left, trident with an axe on the shaft. Rev. Shiva standing facing, holding trident in his right hand and deer skin in his left; behind, the bull Nandi, his companion, standing left; in field to left, Buddhist triratana ('Three Jewels'); all within, bead and reel border. Göbl 760. MAC 3006. Very rare. Minor corrosion spots, otherwise, about very fine.


This monolingual type was issued early in Vima’s reign. It introduced the powerful image of the sacrificing King and featured a bead and reel border on the reverse, which was later replaced by a Kharoshthi legend.