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Vima Kadphises was the father of the great Kanishka I. He probabaly reigned during the first quarter of the 2nd century. The empire must have begun its rapid ascent during his reign, as he introduced gold coinage to accompany the well-developed bronze coinage. Silver coinage seems to have disappeared from the Kushan money supply with Vima Takha (who also isssued very few silver coins).
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Early Mono-lingual issues |
| AE tetradrachm or unit, c. first quarter of 2nd. Century
Weight: 16.18 gm., Diam: 28 mm., Die axis: 12 o'clock
King standing facing, sacrificing at fire altar at left, club, tamgha and axehead-shafted trident in fields,
Greek legend around: BACIΛEYC BACIΛEWN CWTHP MEΓAC OOHMO KAΔΦICHC/
Siva standing facing, holding trident and deerskin, bull Nandi right behind,
bead and reel border around
Göbl 760, MAC 3006 |
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This coin introduces a powerful new image of the king: a full height representation exuding power, sacrificing at a fire
altar, and surrounded by evocative symbols. This early bronze coinage was issued in two denominations: a tetradrachm (or unit) and a drachm (or quarter unit). The early, very
rare coinage, like this and the next coin, featured a bead and reel border on the reverse ... this was later replaced by a Kharoshthi legend. The fact that the gold coins always
feature a Kharoshthi legend suggests that these mono-lingual bronze coins were issued first and the gold coins were issued some years later, when Vima's power (and wealth)
had grown. |
| AE drachm or quarter unit, c. first quarter of 2nd. Century
Weight: 4.01 gm., Diam: 17 mm., Die axis: 1 o'clock
King standing facing, sacrificing at fire altar at left, club, tamgha and axehead-shafted trident in fields,
Greek legend around: BACIΛEYC BACIΛEWN CWTHP MEΓAC OOHMO KAΔΦICHC/
Siva standing facing, holding trident and deerskin, bull Nandi right behind,
bead and reel border around
Göbl 761, MAC 3007 |
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The small denomination of the early, mono-lingual series (no di-drachm or half unit is known for this series). Note the tall, pointed Scythian style cap, seen very clearly on this coin. |
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Later Bi-lingual issues |
| Gold double dinar, c. first quarter of 2nd. Century
Weight: 15.54 gm., Diam: 26 mm., Die axis: 1 o'clock
Crowned, diademed torso of king left, holding club and elephant goad,
Greek legend around: BACIΛEYC OOH .. MO KAΔΦICHC (King Vima Kadphises) /
Siva standing facing, with head turned to right, bull Nandi right behind,
Kharoshti legend: maharajasa rajadirajasa sarvaloga isvarasa mahisvarasa
Vima Kathphishasa tratara
Unpublished variant of Göbl 13 |
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This is an example of Vima's bold new style, here on a large gold double dinar. This unpublished variety has Siva with his head turned to the right, Göbl 13 has Siva's head turned left. Vima's gold coins were issued in three denominations: double dinar, dinar, and quarter dinar. |
| Gold dinar, c. first quarter of 2nd. Century
Weight: 7.95 gm., Diam: 21 mm., Die axis: 12 o'clock
Crowned, diademed torso of king left, holding club and elephant goad,
Greek legend around: BACIΛEYC OOH .. MO KAΔΦICHC (King Vima Kadphises) /
Ithyphallic Siva standing facing, with head turned to left, holding trident and deerskin
Kharoshti legend: maharajasa rajadirajasa sarvaloga isvarasa mahisvarasa
Vima Kathphishasa tratara
Göbl 19, MAC 3004 |
| Gold quarter dinar, c. first quarter of 2nd. Century
Weight: 2.01 gm., Diam: 12 mm., Die axis: 12 o'clock
Crowned, diademed head of king right, framed in a window
Greek legend around: BACIΛEYC OOHMO KAΔΦICHC (King Vima Kadphises) /
Siva's trident, with axe head on shaft, tamgha left, nandipada right
Kharoshti legend: maharaja rajadiraja Vima Kathphishasa
Göbl 9, MAC 3005 |
| AE tetradrachm or unit, c. first quarter of 2nd. Century
Weight: 17.01 gm., Diam: 27 mm., Die axis: 12 o'clock
King standing facing, sacrificing at fire altar at left, club, tamgha and axehead-shafted trident in fields,
Greek legend around: BACIΛEYC BACIΛEWN CWTHP MEΓAC OOHMO KAΔΦICHC/
Siva standing facing, holding trident and deerskin, bull Nandi right behind,
Kharoshti legend: maharajasa rajadirajasa sarvaloga isvarasa mahisvarasa
Vima Kathphishasa tratara
Göbl 762, MAC 3008 |
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A nice example of the bi-lingual tetradrachm with Kharoshthi legend on the reverse. The bi-lingual bronze coinage was
issued in three denominations: a tetradrachm (or unit), a didrachm (or half unit) and a drachm (or quarter unit). |
| AE di-drachm or half unit, c. first quarter of 2nd. Century
Weight: 8.47 gm., Diam: 20-22 mm., Die axis: 12 o'clock
King standing facing, sacrificing at fire altar at left, club, tamgha and axehead-shafted trident in fields,
Greek legend around: BACIΛEYC BACIΛEWN CWTHP MEΓAC OOHMO KAΔΦICHC/
Siva standing facing, holding trident and deerskin, bull Nandi right behind,
Kharoshti legend: maharajasa rajadirajasa sarvaloga isvarasa mahisvarasa
Vima Kathphishasa tratara
Göbl 763, MAC 3048-49 |
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An example of the rare di-drachm or half unit. These are hard to find. |
| AE drachm or quarter unit, c. first quarter of 2nd. Century
Weight: 4.06 gm., Diam: 18 mm., Die axis: 12 o'clock
King standing facing, sacrificing at fire altar at left, club, tamgha and axehead-shafted trident in fields,
Greek legend around: BACIΛEYC BACIΛEWN CWTHP MEΓAC OOHMO KAΔΦICHC/
Siva standing facing, holding trident and deerskin, bull Nandi right behind,
Kharoshti legend: maharajasa rajadirajasa sarvaloga isvarasa mahisvarasa
Vima Kathphishasa tratara
Göbl 764, MAC 3050 |
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