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As the Kushan empire disintegrated, it appears several diferent rulers held sway for short or long periods. Some may have ruled before Shaka and some after. Many of their
coins are quite rare, suggesting that they ruled for very brief periods. One ruler whose coins are relatively plentiful issued coins with the name that has variously been read as
Kipanada, Kipanadha, Kipunadha, and Shkinatha. The vertical arrangement of the Brahmi letters makes a definitive reading difficult. I personally think the reading as Shkinatha,
suggested by Gritli von Mitterwallner. is the most logical, but have elected to use Kipanadha because it will be more recognizable to most people. The coins are presented here
in the order in which they are listed in Göbl.
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Magra or Mishra |
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Gold dinar, c. mid-4th century CE
Weight: 7.82 gm., Diam: 18-20 mm., Die axis: 1 o'clock
King standing facing, nimbate, holding chakra-topped standard and sacrificing at altar at left,
Blundered Bactrian legend around, Brahmi legend: Magraor Mishra at right, ga under arm /
Goddess of plenty Ardochsho enthroned facing, holding diadem and cornucopia,
Blundered Bactrian legend right: APΔOXþO, tamgha at left
Göbl 578 |
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The name of this king is normally read as Magra. However, on this coin, and others I have seen, there is a distinct
diacrtical mark above the ma, rendering it Mi, and the second letter has a horizontal line in the middle, suggesting a sha rather than a ga. Thus
the name appears to read Mishra. Note that the king on this coin does not wear the usual tall, pointed crown, nor does he have a diadem. This suggests that he was
not a Kushan royal, but perhaps a rebel of some kind. |
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Mahi |
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Gold dinar, c. late-4th century CE
Weight: 7.82 gm., Diam: 21-24 mm., Die axis: 11 o'clock
Crowned, diademed King standing facing, nimbate, holding standard and sacrificing at altar at left,
Blundered Bactrian legend around, Brahmi legend: Mahi at right, mi under arm /
Goddess of plenty Ardochsho enthroned facing, holding diadem and cornucopia,
Blundered Bactrian legend right: APΔOXþO, tamgha at left
Göbl 582 |
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On this coin, it is quite clear that the name Mahi has been formed by re-cutting the die, which previously read
Shaka. Thus, this is a Mi-Shaka coin that has been recut to be a Mahi coin, indicating that Mahi must have ruled after Shaka. |
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Gold dinar, c. late-4th century CE
Weight: 7.69 gm., Diam: 20-22 mm., Die axis: 1 o'clock
Crowned, diademed King standing facing, nimbate, holding standard and sacrificing at altar at left,
Blundered Bactrian legend around, Brahmi legend: Mahi at right, pu under arm /
Goddess of plenty Ardochsho enthroned facing, holding diadem and cornucopia,
Blundered Bactrian legend right: APΔOXþO, tamgha at left
Göbl 588 |
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A normal Mahi issue. |
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Kipanadha (Shkinatha?) |
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Gold dinar, c. late-4th century CE
Weight: 7.79 gm., Diam: 19-20 mm., Die axis: 12 o'clock
Crowned, diademed King standing facing, nimbate, holding standard and sacrificing at altar at left,
Blundered Bactrian legend around, Brahmi legend: Kipanadha or Shkinatha at right, bhadra under arm /
Goddess of plenty Ardochsho enthroned facing, holding diadem and cornucopia,
Blundered Bactrian legend right: APΔOXþO, tamgha at left
Göbl 595 |
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The reading of this king's name is not definitive ... it could be Kipanadha or Shkinatha. This king issued only two coin
types: this type has the word bhadra under the king's arm, the other type (see next coin) has a word that appears to read bacharnatha under the arm. |
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Gold dinar, c. late-4th century CE
Weight: 7.42 gm., Diam: 17-19 mm., Die axis: 1 o'clock
Crowned, diademed King standing facing, nimbate, holding standard and sacrificing at altar at left,
Blundered Bactrian legend around, Brahmi legend: Kipanadha or Shkinatha at right,
bacharnatha under arm, ru at left /
Goddess of plenty Ardochsho enthroned facing, holding diadem and cornucopia,
Blundered Bactrian legend right: APΔOXþO, tamgha at left
Göbl 596 |
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Hanaka |
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Gold dinar, c. late-4th century CE
Weight: 7.76 gm., Diam: 18-20 mm., Die axis: 11 o'clock
Crowned, diademed king standing facing, nimbate, holding standard and sacrificing at altar at left,
Blundered Bactrian legend around, Brahmi legend: Shahi Hanaka at right, Kushana at left /
Goddess of plenty Ardochsho enthroned facing, holding diadem and cornucopia,
Bactrian legend right: buda, tamgha at left
Göbl 598 |
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Coins of Hanaka are extremely rare; he may have been an ephemeral Kushan king. |
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