Statue of Kanishka, Mathura, 2nd century CE; now in  the Mathura Museum

Source: http://www.asianart.com/articles/jaya/kanis.html
(downloaded Mar. 2006)


On Kanishka's coins the silhouette often resembles the famous Mathura statue (see above)

Source: http://imperialcoins.com/itemdetail.asp?type=S&item=2115
(downloaded Mar. 2006)

"KUSHAN EMPIRE, Kanishka I. C. 130-158 AD. AE 1/4 Unit (17 mm, 4.31 g). Obv.: King standing facing beside alter, holding trident, control mark in left field; legend starting at 7:00 ShAO KA-NEShKI. / Rev.: Lunate moon goddess Mao standing; MAO to right; Tamgha to left."



 

Kanishka issued coins that honored the Buddha

Source: http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=57598&IsEnlarged=1
(downloaded May 2006)

"Kushans. Kanishka I. Circa 127/8-152 AD. AV Dinar (7.93 gm, 12h). FAONANAOFAO KA-NHFKI KOFANO, Kanishka standing facing, head turned left, flames on shoulder, holding standard in his left hand, sacrificing over altar to left / BODDO, Buddha, nimbate, standing facing, wearing samghati (a long pleated garment), his head with eyes wide open and large moustache, ashnisha on head, urna between eyebrows, his right hand is raised in the gesture of reassurance, abhayamudra, and he holds a pleat of his robe in his left hand; tamgha to right."



 

Kanishka also issued coins that honored Shiva

Source: http://worldcoincatalog.com/AC/C3/India/KushanEmpire/115to140CEKanishkaI/KanishkaI.htm
(downloaded Jan. 2006)

"Gold coin of Kushan king Kanishka I. c. 115-126 CE. Obverse: Kanishka standing holding trident and sacrificing at altar. Reverse: Four-armed god Siva standing with trident."


A gold stater in which Kanishka honors Shiva and Nandi

Source: http://www.vcoins.com/ancient/parscoins/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=3527&large=1
(downloaded Oct. 2006)

"Kings of Kushan. Kanishka II. Circa 200-222 AD. Gold Stater (7.92 gm; 20 x 21 mm). King standing left, holding trident, sacrificing at altar; symbols in field / Siva standing facing, the bull, Nandi, standing left behind."


Kanishka honors the god Mithra (cognate to Mitra)

Source: http://www.vcoins.com/ancient/coinindia/store/viewitem.asp?idProduct=129
(downloaded June 2007)

"Kanishka I AE tetradrachm, MIOPO (Mithra) reverse. Obverse  King standing facing, sacrificing at altar at left, holding sceptre in left hand, Bactrian legend around: ÞAO KANIÞKI (Shao Kanishki). Reverse  Solar deity Mithra standing left, radiate and nimbate, holding out diadem, Bactrian legend at right: MIOPO, tamgha at left. Date  c. 127-150 CE. Weight  16.98 gm. Diameter  26 mm."


Another coin in which Kanishka honors Mithra

Source: http://www.vcoins.com/ancient/parscoins/store/viewitem.asp?idProduct=5591
(downloaded Oct. 2007)

"Kanishka I. Circa 100-126 AD. AV Dinar (7.89 gm; 20 mm). Kanishka standing left, crowned and with flames at shoulder, with sceptre and sword, sacrificing at altar / MIIPO, radiate god standing left, holding sword; tamgha to left."


On this coin, Kanishka honors the Central Asian moon-goddess Mao

Source: http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=76367
(downloaded Mar.. 2006)

"Kanishka I. Circa 127/8-152 AD. AV Dinar (8.00 g, 12h). Mint I (A). PAONANOPAO KA- NHPKI KOPANO, Kanishka standing facing, head left, holding goad over altar in right hand, standard in left; flame at right shoulder, annulet on cheek / MAO, the lunar god Mao, diademed with long fillets, lunar "horns" at shoulders, standing facing, head left, right hand extended in benedictional gesture and cradling globe-tipped sceptre in left arm; tamgha to left."


Here he honors the goddess Nanaia

Source: Source: http://www.vcoins.com/ancient/imperialcoins/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=2115&large=0
(downloaded Mar. 2006)

"Bronze drachm of Kanishka I (ca.127/8-152 AD), Kushan Empire. King standing left beside altar, holding trident. Bactrian legend. Control mark in left field / Goddess Nanaia, inscriptions in the left field. 18mm, 3.5 grams."


Kanishka honors the god Nana

Source: http://www.vcoins.com/ancient/parscoins/store/viewitem.asp?idProduct=4333
(downloaded Feb. 2007)

" Kushan Kings: Kanishka I. Circa 127/8-152 AD. Gold Dinar (6.35 gm; 19 mm). Diademed and draped half-length bust of Kanishka left / Nana standing right, holding sceptre; tamgha to right."


Kanishka honors Athsho, god of metals

Source: http://www.vcoins.com/ancient/coinindia/store/viewitem.asp?idProduct=123
(downloaded June 2007)

"Kanishka I Gold quarter dinar, Athsho reverse. Obverse: King standing facing, sacrificing at altar at left,holding standard or sceptre in left hand, elephant goad in right, Bactrian legend around: ÞAONANOÞAO KA ... NIÞKI KOÞANO (King of kings, Kanishka the Kushan). Reverse: God of metals Athsho standing left, holding out diadem, Bactrian legend at right: A?&Thorn;O, tamgha at left. Date  c. 127-150 CE. Weight  1.95 gm. Diameter  13 mm."


Kanishka honors the wind god, Oado

Source: http://www.vcoins.com/ancient/coinindia/store/viewitem.asp?idProduct=601
(downloaded Feb. 2008)

"KUSHAN: Kanishka I AE tetradrachm, OADO reverse. Obverse: King standing facing, sacrificing at altar at left, holding sceptre in left hand, Bactrian legend around: ÞAO KANIÞKI (Shao Kanishki). Reverse: Wind God Oado flying right, holding up his cloak to catch the wind like a sail, and hair flying to indicate his rapid motion, Bactrian legend at right: OA?O, tamgha at left. Date  c. 127-150 CE. Weight  17.23 gm. Diameter  27 mm."



 
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