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Showcase Auction 61292 4 Dec 2022
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Ancients
INDIA. Kushan Empire. Huvishka (ca. AD 151-190). AV dinar (19mm, 8.03 gm, 1h). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 5/5. Bactria, main mint (probably Balkh), early phase. ÞAONANOÞAO O-OHÞKI KOÞANO, half-length bust of Huvishka left, on mountain top, wearing mustache, heavy sideburns, and prominent wart on cheek, round helmet with crest ornament, twin-pronged forehead ornament, crescent on side, and a jeweled rim, diadem with triangular tie and double ladder-like ribbons to right, and loose-fitting tunic with jeweled collar, club in right hand, sword hilt in left / MAACHNO, Maaseno, standing facing, nimbate, hair in topknot with long ribbons over both shoulders, wearing cloak clasped at chest over dhoti, bracelets, and armlets on both arms, filleted grounded scepter with cockerel finial in right hand, left hand on sword hilt; early type tamgha in left field, dotted border. ANS Kushan 709. Göbl, MK 298 (same reverse die).
From the Historical Scholar Collection
At present, NGC does not grade Kushan, Kidarite, Gupta, Kaivartas, or Samatata gold coins. However, as a special, one-time consideration, NGC Ancients has encapsulated these selections from the extensive Historical Scholar Collection.
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 helmet-like rounded crown and mace-scepter, shaped like an ear of grain, seen here. While his predecessor Kanishka seemed to favor Iranian gods and goddesses, Huvishka was more of a nativist, the deities he honored being mostly Indian, among them Maaseno, depicted in exceptional detail here. Maaseno (also spelled Mahasena) was a Kushan version of the Hindu Skanda, also known as Kartikeya and Subramanya, a youthful god of war and victory.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/ancient-india/ancients-india-kushan-empire-huvishka-ca-ad-151-190-av-dinar-19mm-803-gm-1h-ngc-choice-au-5-5-5-5/a/61292-98042.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-61292-12042022
HID02906262019
© 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
INDIA. Kushan Empire. Huvishka (ca. AD 151-190). AV dinar (19mm, 8.03 gm, 1h). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 5/5. Bactria, main mint (probably Balkh), early phase. ÞAONANOÞAO O-OHÞKI KOÞANO, half-length bust of Huvishka left, on mountain top, wearing mustache, heavy sideburns, and prominent wart on cheek, round helmet with crest ornament, twin-pronged forehead ornament, crescent on side, and a jeweled rim, diadem with triangular tie and double ladder-like ribbons to right, and loose-fitting tunic with jeweled collar, club in right hand, sword hilt in left / MAACHNO, Maaseno, standing facing, nimbate, hair in topknot with long ribbons over both shoulders, wearing cloak clasped at chest over dhoti, bracelets, and armlets on both arms, filleted grounded scepter with cockerel finial in right hand, left hand on sword hilt; early type tamgha in left field, dotted border. ANS Kushan 709. Göbl, MK 298 (same reverse die).
From the Historical Scholar Collection
At present, NGC does not grade Kushan, Kidarite, Gupta, Kaivartas, or Samatata gold coins. However, as a special, one-time consideration, NGC Ancients has encapsulated these selections from the extensive Historical Scholar Collection.
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 helmet-like rounded crown and mace-scepter, shaped like an ear of grain, seen here. While his predecessor Kanishka seemed to favor Iranian gods and goddesses, Huvishka was more of a nativist, the deities he honored being mostly Indian, among them Maaseno, depicted in exceptional detail here. Maaseno (also spelled Mahasena) was a Kushan version of the Hindu Skanda, also known as Kartikeya and Subramanya, a youthful god of war and victory.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/ancient-india/ancients-india-kushan-empire-huvishka-ca-ad-151-190-av-dinar-19mm-803-gm-1h-ngc-choice-au-5-5-5-5/a/61292-98042.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-61292-12042022
HID02906262019
© 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved