Q1.
Observe the coins carefully. Who, besides the emperor, appears on the coin?
Answer
Besides the emperor, the coins show two deities — the Buddha, and Śhiva with his bull Nandi.
| Coin | One side | The other side |
|---|---|---|
| First coin | Kaṇiṣhka standing beside an altar, holding a spear, titled ‘King of Kings' | The Buddha, standing with a halo, inscribed BOΔΔO (‘Buddha') in Greek script |
| Second coin | The emperor again, at an altar | Śhiva with the bull Nandi beside him |
Three details are worth noticing while you look:
- The coins are of gold — the Kuṣhāṇas were rich from the Silk Route trade.
- The legends run round the rim in Greek letters, a habit inherited from the Indo-Greeks — so a single coin carries a Central Asian king, an Indian deity and a Greek script.
- The emperor is always shown at an altar making an offering — he is not merely ruling, he is worshipping.
Tip: the very next page asks you to reflect on why a powerful ruler would do this. Keep your observation of these two coins ready — the answer to that question is built directly on it.