Posthumous Azes Coins In stupa deposits from ancient Afghanistan
ONS 2 March 2013 ‘Donation of Śivarakṣita, son of Mujavada, offered with relics of the Lord, in honour of all buddhas’
Deposits from Bimaran 2 stupa with the gold casket and Posthumous Azes coins Courtesy of Piers Baker
Shevaki Stupa, Kabul Courtesy of Piers Baker
Shevaki Stupa from afar Courtesy of Piers Baker
Guldara Stupa, Kabul The ‘Indo-Scythians’ kings and satraps in coin sequences
(Based on Errington & Curtis 2007)
Kings Satraps
Basileos / Maharaja Satrap, Strategos / Chatrap
Maues (c.75-65BC) Kharahostes (early 1st AD)
Vonones (c.65-50BC) Zeionises (c.AD30-50)
Spalyrises (c.50-40BC) Rajavula
Azes I (c.46-1BC) Aspavarma (c.AD33-64)*
Azilises (c.1BC-AD16) * With the name ‘Azes’ on the obverse
Azes II (c.16-30AD)
Indo-Scythian coins from Buddhist sites in ancient Pakistan and Afghanistan (Based on Errington 1999/2000)
Swat
Darunta/Jalalabad/ Peshawar Hadda Taxila
Posthumous Azes
Maues c.75-65BC Azilises c.1BC-AD16 Zeionises c.AD30-50 Vonones c.65-50BC Azes II c.AD16-30 Rajavula Azes I c.46-1BC Kharahostes early 1st AD Aspavarma c.AD33-64 Pontic to Central Asian steppes
Iranian Plateau Arabia
Nomadic and sedentary groups living in areas extending from the Pontic to Central Asian steppes during the first millennium BC
‘Σκυϑοι’ in Greek sources / ‘Sakas’ in Iranian sources ‘Śakas’ in Indian sources / ‘Sai’ or ‘Se’ in Chinese sources
Three types of Sakas according to the Naqš-i-Rustam inscription of Darius I Sakas ‘who are across the sea’ (Saka Paradraya)
The Pontic steppe areas north of the Black Sea
Sakas ‘wearing the pointed cap’ (Saka Tigraxauda)
Areas between the Caspian Sea and the Aral Sea
‘Hauma-drinking’ or ‘Hauma-preparing Sakas’ (Saka Haumavarga)
Regions around the Syr Darya (Jaxartes River), and Ferghana and
Altai valleys close to Sogdia
(Neelis 2007; Briant 2002; Kent 1953)
Across the sea
Pointed cap
Iranian Plateau Sakas in Chinese historical annals
Shi Ji
Compiled by Sima Qian (148-86BC)
Han shu
Compiled by Ban Biao (3-54AD), Ban Gu (32-92AD) and
Ban Zhao (48-116AD)
Features that distinguish Posthumous Azes coins from other coins in the name of Azes
Posthumous Azes
Highly debased content of silver
Stylised Tyche on the reverse
‘dharmika’ (the Just) is added to the king’s title
New Kharoshthi monograms are used (same as those on Kharahostes – a satrap – Mit. 888)
(Cribb & Bopearachchi 1992) AZES I BM 1894,0506.570 / Silver – 9.4g King holding spear/Pallas left Basileos Basileon Megalou Azou Maharajasa Rajarajasa Mahatasa Ayasa
AZES II BM 1894,0506.566 / Silver – 8.92g King holding whip/Pallas right Basileos Basileon Megalou Azou Maharajasa Rajarajasa Mahatasa Ayasa
POSTHUMOUS AZES BM IOC.201 / copper alloy – 9.57g King holding whip / Tyche holding cornucopia Corrupted Greek Maharajasa Mahatasa Dhramikasa Rajatirajasa Ayasa New Kharoshthi monogram Posthumous Azes coins in stupa deposits in eastern Afghanistan
Tope-I-Kuchera
Passani T5 Bimaran 2
Kotpur 1 Bimaran 5 Hadda 3 Bimaran 2
Kotpur 1
Stupas’ photos from Mizuno 1970 Passani Tumulus VI, VII, V and Stupa 2
Photo from Mizuno 1970 Stupa name No. Other coins Other Stupa Position Conditions of objects category and relating to when found PH wherein other Azes objects Reliquaries Outside ‘Pristine’ Bimaran 2 4 - gemstones the pearls etc reliquary Gondophares Reliquaries Outside ‘Excellent Bimaran 5 At (1) pearls etc the preservation’ least 6 Kujula reliquaries (at least 66) 15 ‘small small stone With other Passani T5 1 corroded & coins but copper coins’ Bird beak separated
from objects Reliquaries ‘entirely Kotpur 1 2 - ornaments uncertain oxidized’ bird beak Tope-I- Kharahostes Reliquary Kutchera 1 (1) & Inside & A piece of reliquary Kujula (1) rock crystal Gondophares Reliquaries Hadda 3 2 (1) & Outside Kujula reliquary (13) Posthumous Azes coins in stupa deposits of eastern Afghanistan (in the BM) Coins occurred with Posthumous Azes in stupa deposits
Kharahostes (c. early 1st AD) (Lion/horse)
Gondophares (c.AD32-60) Kujula Kadphises (c.AD40-90) (Bust of king/Nike) (Hermaeus Imitation) From Hadda Stupa 3 From Hadda Stupa 3 Summary
Late 1st century AD, or later
Could have been issued by Kujula Kadphises or Wima Takto, or one of the Indo-Scythian satraps
Highly localised: found (so far) only in Darunta plain and Hadda
Produced from more than one die
Mostly outside reliquaries
Inside relic cells (if any)
An equal number or more coins than Gondophares
but much fewer coins than those of Kujula
Acknowledgements
Elizabeth Errington, Joe Cribb and Robert Bracey, Department of Coins and Medals, the British Museum
Dr. Cameron Petrie Division of Archaeology, Cambridge University
Piers Baker Masson Project, Department of Coins and Medals, the British Museum
The Neil Kreitman Foundation