KANISHKA I'S COINS WITH THE BUDDHA IMAGE ON THE REVERSE AND SOME REFERENCES TO THE ART OF GANDHARA KATSUMI TANABE The University of Tokyo Preface I. List of documents II. Coin-types III. Stylistical and Iconographical analysis, and chronological order of the coin-types IV. Epigraphical investigation and chronological setting of the legends Conclusion Preface Since the numismatic researches of the various coins discovered in the area covering Afganistan, Pakistan, Nothern India was inaugurated, some numismatists, archaeologists, historians have opined that there are several kings who adopted as one of their dynastic tutelary(1) deities the Buddha Image stand- ing or sitting on the reverse of their coins, such as Saka king Maues, Kushan kings Kujula Kadphises and Kanishka I, Sasanian kings Hormuzd I, Peroz, Hormuzd II, Sapor II, not mentioning the earlier cases of the symbolic represen- tations tried by Indo-Greek kings.(2) Among those coins issued by these kings, the most varied and also most important from the art-historical view-point, are those which were issued by Kanishka I who is said to have converted himself to a fervnt Buddhist and contributed much to the development of the Buddhist Sanghas in Kushan Empire. But, in spite of several scholars' due attentions to these issues and frequent references and comments,(3) none has yet attempted any comprehensive investigation of the coins concerned,(4) though we should take into account the fact that the primary source materials are extremely rare, compared with the large number of the catalogued coins of other types issued by this king. Nor, 31 therefore, the author of this paper cannot afford to make a detailed account of Kanishka I's coins with the Buddha image, due to the scarcity of the documents available, and also to their poor quality of conservation except of a few. Quite recently, however, the author happened to get one copper piece (pl. I) and thought it more approapriate to publish it with some preliminary notes and suggestions, referring to some art-historical problems concerning Kushan Art, for the sake of those who are interested in Kushan numismatics and art- history. I. List of Documents No. I, AU (pl. II) Obv. The king standing l., wearing helmet & diadem, clad in coat, trousers & cloak; flames rise from his shoulders; holding in his r. hand elephant-goad over small alter; in his l, hand, spear; sword at his l. waist. Leg. (in Greek-letters); p AONANO p AOKA (l.), NH p KIKO p- ANO (r.). Rev. Buddha standing en face with big usnisa & long ears; with (two- circled) round nimbus & oval aureole; clad in uttarasanga, ant- arvasaka & sanghati; r. hand raised in abhaya-mudra, l. hand holding the hem of sanghati. Leg. (in Greek-letters); BODDO. Monogram; to r., H. References; B. M. C., p. 130, pl. XXVI, 8. No. II, AU (pl, II) Obv. Do. Leg. (in Greek-letters); p AONANO p AOKA(l.), NH p KIKO- p ANO(r.). Rev. Do. Legend; do. Monogram; to r., H. References; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Acc. Num. 31,895 (Seth K. Sweetser Fund). MFA, BULLETIN (1965), p. 147, fig. 10. No. III, AU (1/4 dinar) Not consulted. 32 ORIENT KANISHKA I'S COINS References; Gobl, R., GNOMON, 1963, p. 254. Said to behoused at Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris. No. IV, AE (pl. II) Obv. The king standing l., clad in coat, trousers & cloak; holding r. hand over small alter, in l. hand, spear. Leg. (in Greek-letters); (p AO) KA (r.), NH (p KI) (l.). Rev. Buddha Sakyamuni en face standing with long ears and (big) usn- isa; clad in sanghati & trousers; r. hand raised in abhaya-mudra, l. hand holding the hem of the garment. Leg. (in Greek-letters) CAKAMA(l.), NOBODDO(r.). Monogram; to l., H (?). References; B. M. C., pl. XXVII, 2. N. C., Vol. XII, pl. VIII, 10, Ing- holt, H., Gandharan Art in Pakistan, pl. III, 3. No. V, AE Obv. & Rev., do. References; B. M. C., Kanerkes, no. 37. No. VI, AE (pl. II) Obv. The king standing l., wearing peaked helmet, long heavy coat & trousers; sacrifices at a small alter; long spear in l. hand. Leg. (in Greek-letters); p AO KANH p KI (P. M. C., p. 186). Rev. Buddha Sakyamuni standing en face with big usnisa and (ears); with round nimbus, clad in sanghati; r. hand raised in abhaya- mudra, l. hand holding the hem of the garment. Leg. (in Greek-letters); (CA)KAM(r.), (BOD)DO(l.). Monogram; to l., H. References; P. M. C., pl. XVIII, 113. No. VII, AE (pl. III) Obv. Bearded figure of king, and legend, as usual on copper coins. Leg. (in Greek-letters); p AO KANH p KI (N. C., Vol. XII, p. 43). Rev. Buddha Sakyamuni standing en face with big usnisa & long ears; with round nimbus, clad in sanghati; r. hand raised in abhaya- mudra, l. hand holding the hem of the garment. Leg. (in Greek-letters); CAKAM(r.), NOBOYDO(l.). Monogram; to r., H (?). References; Wilson, H., Ariana Antiqua, pl. XIII, 2. Vol. X 1974 33 No. VIII, AE Obv. Similar to No. VII. Rev. Similar to No. VII, but the mudra is dharmacakra-mudra(?) and the body-representation does not fit so much the tri-bhanga pose as is shown in No. VII. Further, the position of monogram H is different (put outside the legend). References; Cunningham, A., N. C., Vol. XII, pl. VIII, 8. J. A. S. B., Vol. XIV, pl. 2, fig. 7. No. IX, AE (pl. III) Obv. & Rev., do References; Cunningham, A., N. C., Vol. XII, pl. VIII, 9. No. X, AE (pl. III) Obv. Similar to No. IV. Rev. Similar to No. IV. References; Wilson, H., Ariana Antiqua, pl. XIII, l. No. XI, AE (pl. III) Obv. do. Rev. Buddha standing en face with radiating nimbus (Strahlenkranz); clad in sanghati, though with r. shoulder disclosed; r. hand raised in abhaya-mudra, l. hand resting on the l. waist. Leg. (in Greek-letters); (C)AKA(M) (r.). Monogram; ? References; Wilson, H., Ariana Antiqua, pl. XIII, 3. No. XII, AE (pl. I) Obv. do (hilt of sword is observable). Leg. (in Greek-letters); p AOKA(l.), (NH) p KI (r.). Rev. Buddha standing en face in tri-bhanga pose, with round nimbus & clad in sanghati; r. hand raised in abhaya-mudra, l, hand resting on the l. waist (or holding the hem of the garment); usnisa in medium size & ears defaced or not represented. Leg. (in Greek-letters); (CAKAMA?) (l.), BOYDO (r.). Monogram; to r., H. References; Author's collection. diam: 2.3 centimetres, weight: 16.30 grams. No. XIII, AE (pl. III) Obv. Similar to No. IV. 34 ORIENT KANISHKA I'S COINS Leg. (in Greek-letters); p (A)OKA(r.), NH(p KI) (l.). Rev. Buddha sitting en face cross-legged on asana with big usnisa & long ears; clad in sanghati(?) with radiating round nimbus (formed of dots); r. hand raised (in abhaya-mudra), l. hand on the l, thigh (holding the hem of the garment). Leg. (in Greek-letters); CAKA(?)(l.), OBOYD(r.). According to A. Cunningham's deciferment, O DDO BOD(DMA). Monogram; to l., H (?). References; J.A.S.B., Vol. XIV, pl. 2, fig. 6. No. XIV, AE (pl. III) Obv. do Leg. (in Greek-letters); NH p KI (l.). Rev. Buddha sitting en face cross-legged on asana with round nimbus. (big) usnisa & long ears; clad in sanghati, r. hand raised in abhaya- mudra, l. hand resting on the l. thigh. Leg. (in Greek-letters); BAGOB(l.), OYDO(r.). References; von Sallet, A., Die Nachfolger Alexanders des Grossen in Baktrien und Indien, pl. VI, fig. I. B. M. C., pl. XXXII, 14. No. XV, AE (pl. IV) Obv. The king standing l., holding r. hand over a small altar (similar to No. IV). Leg. (in Greek-letters); defaced. Rev. Buddha sitting en face cross-legged on asana with big usnisa & long ears (similar to No. XIV). Leg. (in Greek-letters); OBOYD(r.), (CAKAMAN)(l.). Monogram; ? References; Cunningham, A., N. C., Vol. XII, pl. XVIII, fig. 12. Ingholt, H., loc. cit., pl. III, 4. No. XVI, AE (pl. IV) Obv. The king standing l., as on No. IV. Leg. (in Greek-letters); (p AO KA)(r.), NH p KI(l.). Rev. Buddha sitting en face cross-legged on asana with round nimbus & long ears; clad in sanghati, both hands raised in front of breast (in dharmacakra-mudra ?). Leg. (in Greek-letters); CAK(A) (l.), NBOYD(r.). References; Cunningham, A., N. C., Vol. XII, pl. XVIII, 14. Ingholt, Vol. X 1974 35 H., loc. cit., pl. III, 5. No. XVII, AE (pl. IV) Obv. The king standing l., with spear in l. hand. Leg. (in Greek-letters);...H p KI (l.). Rev. Buddha sitting en face cross-legged on asana with (big usnisa & long ears); clad in sanghati with r. hand raised in abhaya-mudra, l. hand on l. thigh (similar to No. XVI.). Legend is blurred. References; excavated at Dharmarajika Stupa, Taxila, AR.ASI (1915- 16), p. 34. Marshall, J., Taxila, vol. III. pl. 243, No. 261. No. XVIII, AE Obv. The king standing l., holding r. hand over a small altar, clad in long coat, trousers & cloak. Legend defaced, but probably, (p AO KANH p KI). Rev. Buddha seated en face cross-legged on a chauki with broad feet. The r. hand is held near the chest in abhaya-mudra and the l. hand with clenched fist resting on the thigh; head nimbate, ears elongated; traces of drapery on both shoulders (due to V. S. Agrawala's descrip- tion) (quite similar to Nos.