First ever Image of Buddha on Coins (Kanishka I, 128-150 AD)

 

Deities are worshipped in various forms from time immemorial. Beliefs and reverence for supernatural powers have driven humans to worship many forms. These deities are found depicted on Indus Valley Seals, on walls of ancient ruins, and at places of worship. After the advent of coins, deities were depicted on coins of Greece, Rome and on Janapada coins of India.

                        

Gold Dinar from the Kushan period, issued by Kanishka I between 128-150 AD, depicts the Buddha standing and facing forward. His left hand holds his robe, while his right hand is in the Abhaya Mudra, signifying 'have no fear'. To the left is a Bactrian legend, and to the right, a tamgha symbol.

Boddo or Buddha founder of the new philosophic thought in India on whose teachings Buddhism was founded is depicted on coins of Kanishka I. He is believed to have lived and taught mostly in eastern part of the Indian subcontinent somewhere between the 6th and 4th century BC.

The iconic imagery of Gautam Buddha was introduced during the Kushan rule and developed with the Gandhara style of art under this dynasty. The image of Buddha on Kanishka i coins with all the aesthetic features of Buddha, like the head bun, the sanghati (the over a cloth) and long ear lobes.

The coins of Kanishka I have other avatars (incarnations) of Buddha depicted on them. According to Mahayana traditions, Buddha was not only Buddha, but Mahayana Buddhism also considers Shakyamuni Buddha to be the first Buddha, Maitreya Buddha is the future incarnation of Buddha according to the Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhist traditions. Kanishka I's coins also portray him on them.

The coin below is a gold Dinar coin of Kanishka which depicts a crowned diademed king standing facing with Bactrian legend around. The reverse depicts Buddha standing facing, left hand holding robe, right hand in Abhaya mudra, with Bactrian legend around. This is probably the earliest representation of Buddha. 

                       

Gold Dinar, Kushan, Kanishka I, 128-150 AD, weight 7.9 gm, Obverse: Diademed head of king facing, holding spear and sacrificing at altar at left, Bactrian legend around, Reverse: The Buddha standing facing, left hand holding robe, right hand in Abhya Mudra, ''have no fear'', Bactrian legend left, tamgha at right.

                         

AE Didrachm, or 1/2-unit, 128-150 AD, Bronze, weight 8.4 gm, Obverse: Diademed king standing facing, holding spear and sacrificing at altar at left, Bactrian legend around, Reverse: Sakyamuni Buddha standing facing, left hand holding robe, right hand in Abhayamudra, ''have no fear'', Bactrian legend at left and right.  

                         

AE, tetradrachm, 128-150 AD, Bronze, weight 16.2 gm, Obverse: Diademed head king standing facing, holding spear and sacrificing at altar to left, Bactrian legend around, Reverse: Maitreya Buddha seated facing on a meditating platform, Bactrian legend around, no tamgha.

Kushan Empire ( 30 AD - 375 AD)

                                       

Kushans were a tribe of Yeuzi, some suggest they were Iranian nomads, others describe them as living in eastern Xinjiang and northwest Gansu, modern China, they were forced to migrate and reached Greco-Bactria (Northern Afghanistan and Uzbekistan) around 135 BC, they spread across the Hindukush and Indus basin occupying the western part of the Indo- Greek Kingdom,

                                

                                  Vima Kadphises

The first Kushan ruler was Kujula Kadphises. He continued to imitate coins of the Roman Emperor Augustus (31 BC to 14 AD). The image of the seated Roman Emperor was transformed into a Kushan ruler, identified as Kujula Kadphisies in Greek and Kharosthi legends. Evidence reflects the growth of Kushans following the reign of Indo-Parthian ruler Gondophares (after 46 AD). Gradually wresting control of the area from the Scythian tribes, Kushans expanded into Gandhara and established twin capitals in Begram and Peshawar, known as Kapisa and Pushklavati respectively.

Kujula was followed by another ruler Vimla Takto before Vima Kadphises, the father of Kanishka. Vima introduced gold coinage, melted from roman coinage imported to India with elaborate iconography. Vima is portrayed as a large man in all glory on his coins.

The Kushan empire reached its greatest extent during the reign of Kanishka, whose legacy as a powerful emperor is evident in inscriptions. His empire extended to the cities of Ujjain, Kuninda, Saketa, Kausambi and Patliputra. Kushans maintained Iranian religious and beliefs also in Buddhism. Their influence in Khotan and Kashgar is well known and bilingual Chinese and kharosthi coins issued in the 1st and 2nd centuries show that.

For a time, according to Alain Danielou" Kushan empire "was a center point of the major civilizations"as it was a center of trade between the Roman Empire and China.

The Kushan empire broke up into semi-independent kingdoms in the 3rd century AD and fell to the Sasanians invading from the west. The Gupta dynasty also exerted pressure from the east. Kushans and Sasanians were eventually overwhelmed by the Kidarites and then the Hephthalites.

The chronology of the Kushan emperors: -

Kujula Kadphises,(50-90 AD) Vima Taktu (Soter Megas) (90-113 AD), Vima Khadphises,(113-120,(120-144 AD) Huvishka, (145-180 AD) Vasudeva I, (190-232 AD), Kaniska II, (225-245 AD), Vasika (246 - 267 AD), Kaniska III (268 AD), Vasudeva II (290-310 AD) 

                                      

Kushan Empire under Kanishka 

                                                   

  Kujula Kadphises, 50-90 AD, weight 4.6 gm, 

Obverse: Hermaios styled diademed bust right, Greek legend around

Reverse: Hercules standing facing, holding club, kharoshti legend around.

                                                    

                                                         

Vima Takto, (Soter Megas), tetradrachm, 90-113 AD, weight 8.3 gm.

Obverse: diademed bust right, holding scepter, tangha behind, 12 rays, 

Reverse: king mounted on horse right, holding whip or dagger.

                                                        

✰

Vima Kadphises, 113-120 AD, weight 15.99 gm, gold double dinar.

Obverse :King facing left sitting on throne wearing robe, trousers and boots. Greek legend around

Reverse: Oesho standing with trident in hand leaning on a bull. Karosthi legend, maharajasa rajadhirajsa sarvaloga isvarasa mahisvarasa vima kathpisasa tradara.

                                                       

Vima Kadphises,113-120 AD, weight 4.1 gm.

Obverse : Siva standing facing, holding trident and deerskin, bull Nandi behind

Reverse:  King standing facing, sacrificing at fire alter at left, club, tamgha and axehead-shafted trident in fields

                                                         

Vima Kadphises, 113-120 AD, weight 17.2 gm

Obverse: Shiva standing facing, holding trident, bull Nandi right behind, kharosti legend:maharajasa sarvaloga isvaraha mahisvarasa Vima Kathpishasa tratara

Reverse: King standing sacrificing at altar at left, club, tamgha and axehead-shafted trident in field, Greek legend around.

                                                         

Kanishka, tetradrachm, 128-140 AD, weight 15.5 gm

Obverse; Crowned diademded king standing facing, holding spear and sacrificing at altar at left, bactrian legend around

Reverse: Lunar deity Mao standing, holding sword hilt and holding out hand in blessings, 

                                                          

                                                        

Kanishka, tetradrachm, 128- 140 AD, weight 10.5 gm

Obverse: Diademded king standing holding spear and sacrificing at altar,

Reverse: Deity standing holding sword

                                                       

Kanishka, Drachm, 127 AD, weight 3.8 gm

Obverse; King standing facing, sacrificing at altar, holding scepter in left hand, Greek legend around

Reverse: Goddess Nana standing right, nimbate, holding protome of animal, Greek legend.

                                                         

                                                         

✩

Huvishka, Dinar 151-190 AD, weight 7.8 gm, gold

Obverse: diademed and crowned bust holding scepter in one hand and hilt of sword with the other with Bactrian legend

Reverse: deity  standing left with arm extended, lunar "horns" on shoulder, scepter in left arm, holding hilt of sword, tamgha in field .

                                              

                                                  

Huvishka , 160-190 AD, weight 14.8 gm

Obverse: elephant rider walking right

Reverse: Goddess Mao facing right.

                                                         

Vasudeva I, tetradrachm, 195-225 AD, weight 8.8 gm

Obverse: diademed king standing facing, nimbate, holding trident and sacrificing at altar at left, Bactrian legend

Reverse: Shiva standing holding trident and diadem, bull Nandi left behind, tamgha at right.

                                                         

Vasudeva I, tetradrachm, 195-225 AD, weight 7.6 gm

Obverse: diademed king standing facing, nimbate, holding trident and sacrificing at altar at left, Bactrian legend

Reverse: Shiva standing holding trident and diadem, bull Nandi left behind, tamgha at right.

                                                    

Kanishka II, 227-247 AD, weight 6.7 gm

Obverse: diademed king standing facing, holding trident and sacrificing at altar at left,

Reverse: Goddess of plenty Ardochsho facing

   ✰   from auction madoncoins

   ✩   From auction