Kanishka I (The Great) 128-154 AD Copper Tetradrachm Obverse: King Sacrificing at Altar Reverse: Four Armed Shiva Vima's able son Kanishka followed and took control of this dynasty in 128 AD. Kanishka is the legendary ruler of ancient India and according to most historians the greatest ruler of Kushan dynasty. He was the first ruler of the ancient world ever to show shoulder flames and nimbus around the royal head on his coins (giving hismself the divine status). He and his descendents called themselves `Devputra' which means son of god, who ruled Aryavarta, the India. Kanishka's rock inscription has been unearthed in 1993 at Rabatak near Surkh Kotal in Afghanistan. It describes him as a ruler, his geneology and the extend of his empire. Rabatak inscription give a list of the chief cities of north India which were controlled by Kanishka. Four such cities are Saketa, Kausambi, Pataliputra, and Champa . This provides clear evidence that his mighty empire consisted Bactria (modern Afghanistan), part of central Asia (Tajikistan), north-western India (modern Pakistan) and Northern India till Pataliputra or Patana (modern Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar states). Kushan empire was at it's peak in terms of area during his and his son's reign. Kalhan, a poet and historian of Kashmir, who wrote a famous chronicle of Kings of Kashmir, `Rajatarangini', a crucial historic document, testified that Kashmir was part of his empire. He also built a city called Kushka in Kashmir which was named after him. Information about Kushan Empire: The name Kushan is derived from the term Guishang, used in Chinese historical writings to describe one branch of the nomadic people, called Yuezhi or Yuechi. These nomads who were of Indo-European stock, roamed the northwestern China but during 176-160 BC, they were driven west by another group, the Xiongnu. The political disturbance in central asia (and possibly the availability of better and prosperous land and other resources) drove these nomads out into Bactria (modern (northwest Afghanistan and Tajikistan). In 165 BC, few tribes settled in Oxus valley and established independent existance. Kujula Kadphises (30-80 AD) established the Kushan dynasty in 78 AD by taking advantage of disunion in existing dynasty of Pahalava (Parthian) and Scytho-Parthians, and gradually wrested control of southern prosperous region, which is the northwest part of ancient India, traditionally known as Gandhara (now Pakistan). It was his grandson Vima Kadphises (Yen-kao-chen in Chinese record) who made Kushan a paramount power of northern India. His reign saw emergence of Kushan empire when he conquored north-western India (modern Punjab, now divided in Pakistan and India). Kushan empire covered north west of India (includes Pakistan and modern Afganistan) and northern India. Ample evidences of trade with China, cental Asia, Egypt and Rome are available which made their economy very strong and kingdom wealthy and prosperous. Soon he came under influence of `early' Hinduism and took opportunity to proclaim himself Mahishwara, another name for Lord Shiva, on his coins (Shiva is a prominent Hindu god). Kushan kings introduced gold and copper coins, a large number of them have survived till today. It was the Kushan emperor, Vima Kadaphises who introduced the FIRST gold coins of India. He minted gold coins in three different denominations; double Dinar, Dinar and quarter Dinar. Example of each of these three denominations are shown below. Vima mostly used one deity, Shiva (Oesho in Bactrian language) standing (with trident) with (or without) his bull Nandi, on reverse of his coins. Please share information about this token if anybody recognises it. Thanks Anybody interested to buy this coin please email me your offer to raman@globaltranslators.co.uk Payments can be made via PayPal. I got 5 coins of Kanishka empire and will like to keep one and sell the remaining 4.