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Kanishka II was succeeded by Vasishka, who probably reigned c. 247-265. Inscriptions naming Vasishka as king are dated years 22 to 30 in the Kanishka era, so the
known dates of his reign are 249-257. One inscription names a Vaskushana and another names a Vajheshka; both of these are taken to be Vasishka. He is also named as
the father of the then current emperor (Kanishka III) in an inscription dated 41 (=267 CE).
The coins of Vasishka are very difficult to attribute conclusively. Almost none actually show his name on the flan.
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Gold Coinage |
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Gold dinar, c. 247-265 CE
Weight: 7.88 gm., Diam: 22-23 mm., Die axis: 12 o'clock
Crowned, diademed king standing facing, holding standard and sacrificing at altar at left,
second trident above altar, Bactrian legend around: þAONANOþAO B ... A ZηþKO KOþANO
Δ at right, Brahmi tha between legs, Kharoshthi pa at left /
Goddess of plenty Ardochsho enthroned facing, holding diadem and cornucopia,
Bactrian legend right: APΔOXþO, Brahmi tha at top right, tamgha at left
Göbl 557 |
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A rare coin showing Vasishka's name: BAZηþKO. |
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Gold quarter dinar, c. 247-265 CE
Weight: 1.97 gm., Diam: 14 mm., Die axis: 12 o'clock
Crowned, diademed king standing facing, holding standard and sacrificing at altar at left,
second trident above altar, Bactrian legend around: þAONANOþAO BA ... Z ... ηþKO KOþANO /
Goddess of plenty Ardochsho enthroned facing, holding diadem and cornucopia,
Bactrian legend right: APΔOXþO, tamgha at left
Göbl 560 var |
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Gold dinar, c. 247-265 CE
Weight: 7.81 gm., Diam: 21-22 mm., Die axis: 1 o'clock
Crowned, diademed king standing facing, holding standard and sacrificing at altar at left,
second trident above altar, Bactrian legend around: þAONANOþAO B ... A ZηþKO KOþANO
Brahmi chhu at right, tha between legs, vai at left /
Goddess of plenty Ardochsho enthroned facing, holding diadem and cornucopia,
Bactrian legend right: APΔOXþO, Brahmi tha at top right, tamgha at left
Göbl 559 |
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At one point, these coins with Brahmi chhu in the right field were tentatively attributed to Vasishka's son,
Kanishka III. But this coin shows a B following the initial þAONANOþAO of the legend, suggesting it is a coin of Vasishka. |
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Gold quarter dinar, c. 247-265 CE
Weight: 2.08 gm., Diam: 13-14 mm., Die axis: 1 o'clock
Crowned, diademed king standing facing, holding standard and sacrificing at altar at left,
second trident above altar, Bactrian legend around: þAONANOþAO KA ... N ... ηþKO KOþANO
Brahmi chhu at right, vi between legs, ga at left /
Goddess of plenty Ardochsho enthroned facing, holding diadem and cornucopia,
Bactrian legend right: APΔOXþO, tamgha at left
Göbl 564 |
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Gold dinar, c. 247-265 CE
Weight: 7.88 gm., Diam: 20-22 mm., Die axis: 12 o'clock
Crowned, diademed king standing facing, holding trident and sacrificing at altar at left,
second trident above altar, Bactrian legend around: þAONANOþAO ... BAZOKOþAN KOþANO
additional Brahmi letters: ra da right, gho or yo between legs /
Two-armed Shiva standing facing, holding trident and diadem, Bull Nandi left behind,
Bactrian legend right: þAOη (!), tamgha at left
Göbl 628 var |
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This coin seems to state the king's name as Vaskushan. |
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Copper coins |
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Copper unit, c. mid 3rd century CE
Weight: 4.02 gm., Diam: 17-18 mm., Die axis: 12 o'clock
Crowned, diademed king standing facing, holding standard and sacrificing at altar at left /
Two-armed Shiva standing facing, holding trident and diadem, Bull Nandi left behind,
Göbl 1010, MAC 3533 |
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The attribution of this coin and the next is tentative. Because of the curved hem on the king's tunic, they seem to be
later than Vasudeva I ... they could belong to the reign of Kanishka II or Vasishka. |
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Copper unit, c. mid 3rd century CE
Weight: 6.15 gm., Diam: 19-21 mm., Die axis: 12 o'clock
Crowned, diademed king standing facing, holding standard and sacrificing at altar at left /
Two-armed Shiva standing facing, holding trident and diadem, Bull Nandi left behind,
Göbl 1010, MAC 3533 |
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Copper unit, c. mid 3rd century CE
Weight: 5.05 gm., Diam: 18 mm., Die axis: 12 o'clock
Crowned, diademed king standing facing, holding standard and sacrificing at altar at left,
Brahmi chhu at right /
Two-armed Shiva standing facing, holding trident and diadem, Bull Nandi left behind,
Göbl 1011, MAC 3560 |
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This coin certainly belongs with the gold issues that also carry the Brahmi chhu in the right field. |
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