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It appears that Kanishka III was followed by Vasudeva II. The only non-numismatic evidence for this ruler is a single inscription dated to year 170 and naming
Raja Devaputra Shahi Vasudeva. If the 170 is correct, this would be the only inscription from the second century of the Kanishka era not to have dropped the hundreds digit,
and would date the inscription to the year 297 CE. However, there is some question whether the inscription has been read correctly. It might actually just read 70, in which case
it would apply to Vasudeva I and would lie squarely in the middle of his reign.
Regardless of the inscription, the coins of Vasishka seem to be clearly followed by the coins of a king named Vasudeva, whose name, BAZΔηO, is seen on some
coins. Also, there is a series of gold and copper coins that have the Brahmi letters Vasu in the right field that seem to belong to the same period. So we might tentatively
date Vasudeva II to some time after 268 CE, perhaps c. 275-300.
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Gold Coinage |
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Gold dinar, c. 275-300 CE
Weight: 7.66 gm., Diam: 21 mm., Die axis: 12 o'clock
Crowned, diademed king standing facing, nimbate, holding standard and sacrificing at altar at left,
Bactrian legend around: þAONANOþAO BA ... ZOΔηO KOþANO,
Brahmi legend: Vasu at right, chu between legs, khu at left /
Goddess of plenty Ardochsho enthroned facing, holding diadem and cornucopia,
Bactrian legend right: APΔOXþO, tamgha at left
Göbl 569 |
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Gold quarter dinar, c. 275-300 CE
Weight: 1.99 gm., Diam: 13 mm., Die axis: 11 o'clock
Crowned, diademed king standing facing, nimbate, holding standard and sacrificing at altar at left,
Degenerate Bactrian legend around, Brahmi legend: Vasu at right, bha at left /
Goddess of plenty Ardochsho enthroned facing, holding diadem and cornucopia,
Bactrian legend right: APΔOXþO, tamgha at left
Göbl 573 |
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Gold dinar, c. 275-300 CE
Weight: 7.75 gm., Diam: 19-20 mm., Die axis: 12 o'clock
Crowned, diademed king standing facing, nimbate, holding standard and sacrificing at altar at left,
Bactrian legend around: þAONANOþAO BA ... ZOΔηO KOþANO,
Brahmi legend: Vasu at right, chu between legs, khu at left /
Goddess of plenty Ardochsho enthroned facing, holding diadem and cornucopia,
Bactrian legend right: APΔOXþO, tamgha at left
Göbl 577 |
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This coin must be from late in Vasudeva II's reign as the style closely resembles some of the later coins of Shaka. Note
how the Bactrian circular legend on the obverse has become completely degenrate on this coin. |
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Gold dinar, c. 275-300 CE
Weight: 7.81 gm., Diam: 20-22 mm., Die axis: 12 o'clock
Crowned, diademed king standing facing, nimbate, holding trident and sacrificing at altar at left,
Bactrian legend around: þAONANOþAO ... BAZΔηO KOþANO,
additional Brahmi letters: ra da right, gho or yo between legs, ga at left /
Two-armed Shiva standing facing, holding trident and diadem, Bull Nandi left behind,
Bactrian legend right: þAOη (!), tamgha at left
Göbl 633 |
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This coin closely follows similar types of Vasishka and must be from the same mint. Göbl called this Mint E and
thought it was a camp mint moving with the army. |
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Copper coins |
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Copper unit, c. 275-300 CE
Weight: 2.65 gm., Dim: 14 x 14 mm., Die axis: 12 o'clock
Within dotted circular border, Brahmi: Vasu /
Tamgha
Göbl 1020 |
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An unusual innovation! |
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Copper unit, c. 275-300 CE
Weight: 4.33 gm., Diam: 15-16 mm., Die axis: 11 o'clock
Crowned, diademed king enthroned facing, nimbate, holding standard and diadem,
Brahmi Vasu at right, ga under arm /
Goddess of plenty Ardochsho enthroned facing, holding diadem and cornucopia,
Bactrian legend right: APΔOXþO, tamgha at left
Göbl 1024 |
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This copper series in fine style is quite unusual in the Kushan series. Some of these coins have been found overstruck
on Kushano-Sasanian coppers. |
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Copper unit, c. 275-300 CE
Weight: 3.28 gm., Diam: 14-15 mm., Die axis: 12 o'clock
Crowned, diademed king standing facing, nimbate, holding trident and sacrificing at altar at left /
Two-armed Shiva standing facing, holding trident and diadem, Bull Nandi left behind,
Göbl 1025, MAC 3559 |
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