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Posthumous Azes Coins in Stupa Deposits from Ancient Afghanistan

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Posthumous Azes Coins in Stupa Deposits from Ancient Afghanistan 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 .
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