| Heritage World Coin Auctions > Showcase Auction 61480 | Auction date: 2 March 2025 |
| Lot number: 23020 Price realized: 4,400 USD (Approx. 4,225 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: Ancients INDIA. Kushan Empire. Kanishka I (ca. AD 127-151). AV dinar (20mm, 7.95 gm, 12h). AU, Fine Style. Kushan standard, Bactria, main mint (probably Balkh), late phase. ÞAONANOÞAO KA-NHÞKI KOÞANO, Kanishka I standing facing, head left, with long beard, flame emanating from right shoulder, wearing round cap with ladder-like brim diadem tie with two ribbons to right, cloak around shoulders double-clasped at chest with corner folds pointing left and right, worn over belted tunic, trousers, and boots, sacrificing with right hand and holding elephant goad over altar at left, grounded spear in left hand, sword with curved hilt held by buckled belt; dotted border beneath feet / NANAÞAO, Nanashao standing facing, turned right, nimbate head right with crescent on top, spiked hair held by diadem with triangular tie and two ribbons to left, jeweled bun at back, wearing sleeved, angle-length loosely fitting robe, transverse wand with lion protome in right hand, bowl in left, sword with curved hilt held by belt emerges from behind body lower left; tamgha without crossbar to right, dotted border. ANS Kushan 381. Göbl, MK 60. Ex Alde, Auction (11 September 2024), lot 48. This is an intriguing specimen. As one observes the small die cud in various die states in the obverse inner right field, the die matches the examples sold in Triton XXV (11 January 2022), lot 597 (Mao reverse); Classical Numismatic Group, Electronic Auction 96 (14 May 2014), Lot 634 (Mao reverse); Triton XV (3 January 2012), lot 1369 (Miiro reverse); and Classical Numismatic Group, Electronic Auction 73 (13 September 2006), Lot 544 (Mao reverse). However, the reverse die does not appear in ANS Kushan nor any examples in sales archives. The style is exceptional, with each detail carefully engraved. One aspect in particular to note is the triangular diadem tie at the back of the head - a device missing from all of the Nana and Nanashao dies in the observed archives. Another unusual attribute is the raised area at 9h on the reverse. Although one could speculate a result of a plated core exposed to moisture and bubbling up below the surface, this seems highly unlikely. There are no breaks on the surface and an XRF analysis returns Au (97.49), Ag (1.88), and Cu (0.634). www.HA.com/TexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/ancient-india/ancient-india-india-kushan-empire-kanishka-i-ca-ad-127-151-av-dinar-20mm-795-gm-12h-au-fine-style/a/61480-23020.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-61480-03022025 HID02906262019 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved |  |
