Numismatic book On Ancient Chinese Currency

Posted by slang on May 31, 2010

Numismatic book on Chinese currency

A page from this book

A very interesting well research Norway book. Encompass many hand written illustration of the ancient past of Chinese coinage and its history. For those who love to collect ancient Chinese coins, this is one of the book not to be missed.

Kushan Kanishka AV Stater (c.AD130-158), a Buddha standing on reverse

Posted by slang on August 29, 2009

Kushan Kanishka AV Stater (c.AD130-158), a Buddha standing on reverse

The Kushans , a Central Asian people who had settled in Afghanistan during the second sentury BC, extended their empire into India during the late first century AD. By the end of the second century AD their coinage was well established in Northern India and had a considerable influence on local coins.

Normally, the Kushan coins depicted the potrait of the Kushan King on the front, normally as a full-length figure sacrificing at an altar, but on some issues riding on an elephant or seated on a throne. The back always showed a god or goddess. Both sides were inscribed in the Kushan language written in Greek script. Coins were struck in both copper and gold, the first time gold coinage has been issued in India. The copper coins were imitated in many areas, both unofficially as in Orissa and officially by local tribal groups like the Yaudheyas and Kotas in the Punjab.