Heritage World Coin Auctions
Long Beach Signature Sale 3042 17-18 Sep 2015
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Ancients
INDIA. Kushan Empire. Huvishka (ca. AD 152-192). AV dinar (21mm, 8.05 gm, 12h). Draped half-length bust of Huvishka left, nimbate and wearing pointed and jeweled crown, holding mace-scepter in right hand and spear over left shoulder / Ardoxsho standing left, holding cornucopia, tamgha to left. MK 285. Donum Burns 262. Very rare variety with Ardoxsho standing left! Cleanly struck from fresh dies and fully lustrous. Choice About Uncirculated.Like most Kushan rulers, Huvishka is something of an enigma in terms of his character, personality and accomplishments. His rule was long and seemingly prosperous; although there was a substantial devaluation of the bronze coinage during his long reign, his gold coins remained of good weight and style throughout. Unlike most Kushan rulers, he employed several different obverse bust types on his gold coinage displaying a range of interesting attributes, among them the pointed helmet-crown and mace-scepter, shaped like an ear of grain, seen here. Nearly all reverses of Huvishka depicting the goddess Ardoxsho (an Iranian deity also called Ashi Vanguihi, "she who brings blessings") show her standing to the right; a survey of auction records for the past five years shows only one other left-facing example having been offered.
Estimate: 2400-3000 USD
INDIA. Kushan Empire. Huvishka (ca. AD 152-192). AV dinar (21mm, 8.05 gm, 12h). Draped half-length bust of Huvishka left, nimbate and wearing pointed and jeweled crown, holding mace-scepter in right hand and spear over left shoulder / Ardoxsho standing left, holding cornucopia, tamgha to left. MK 285. Donum Burns 262. Very rare variety with Ardoxsho standing left! Cleanly struck from fresh dies and fully lustrous. Choice About Uncirculated.Like most Kushan rulers, Huvishka is something of an enigma in terms of his character, personality and accomplishments. His rule was long and seemingly prosperous; although there was a substantial devaluation of the bronze coinage during his long reign, his gold coins remained of good weight and style throughout. Unlike most Kushan rulers, he employed several different obverse bust types on his gold coinage displaying a range of interesting attributes, among them the pointed helmet-crown and mace-scepter, shaped like an ear of grain, seen here. Nearly all reverses of Huvishka depicting the goddess Ardoxsho (an Iranian deity also called Ashi Vanguihi, "she who brings blessings") show her standing to the right; a survey of auction records for the past five years shows only one other left-facing example having been offered.
Estimate: 2400-3000 USD