Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Triton XXV 11-12 Jan 2022
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INDIA, Kushan Empire. Kanishka I. Circa AD 127-151. AV Dinar (20mm, 8.00 g, 12h). Main mint in Baktria (Balkh?). Late phase. ÞAONANOÞAO KA NhÞKI KOÞANO, Kanishka, diademed and crowned, standing facing, head left, holding goad and scepter, sacrificing over altar to left; flame at shoulder / ΛPOOACΠO to right, Lrooaspo, diademed and bearded, standing right, holding diadem in raised right hand; behind, caparisoned horse standing right with left foreleg raised; tamgha to left. MK 57/1 (O8/R1); ANS Kushan –; Donum Burns 127; Triton XXIII, lot 553 = CNG 103, lot 473 = Triton XIII, lot 271 = Triton XII, lot 425 (same dies); Triton XXII, lot 472 (same dies); CNG 100, lot 1661 (same dies). Slight double strike on obverse, hint of die rust. Near EF. Extremely rare, Göbl cites four examples (including the Donum Burns coin), four in CoinArchives.
From the Archytas Collection.
Who the god Lrooaspo was is a matter of conjecture. One possibility is that he was an adaptation of Drvaspa, an Avestan deity, who was the guardian of the health of beasts. Another possibility is that he is a representation of the Mithraic deity Apam Napat, "the grandson of the waters," and associated with Neptune. According to the Avesta, Apam Napat possesses the epithet Aurvat-aspa, or "possessing swift horse" (Yašt 19.51). Associated with both Mithra and Drvaspa, he is concerned with the preservation of Khavaeno, or legitimate princely authority, perhaps accounted for by the presentation of the diadem in his depiction on this coin.
From the Archytas Collection.
Who the god Lrooaspo was is a matter of conjecture. One possibility is that he was an adaptation of Drvaspa, an Avestan deity, who was the guardian of the health of beasts. Another possibility is that he is a representation of the Mithraic deity Apam Napat, "the grandson of the waters," and associated with Neptune. According to the Avesta, Apam Napat possesses the epithet Aurvat-aspa, or "possessing swift horse" (Yašt 19.51). Associated with both Mithra and Drvaspa, he is concerned with the preservation of Khavaeno, or legitimate princely authority, perhaps accounted for by the presentation of the diadem in his depiction on this coin.