page_title: Kushan coinage
section_title: Kushan deities
hierarchical_section_title: Kushan coinage / Kushan deities
caption_attribution_description: Reverse of gold coin of Huvishka. Skanda and Visakha on reverse.
context_page_description: In the coinage of the North Indian and Central Asian Kushan Empire the main coins issued were gold, weighing 7.9 grams, and base metal issues of various weights between 12 g and 1.5 g. Little silver coinage was issued, but in later periods the gold used was debased with silver.
  The coin designs usually broadly follow the styles of the preceding Greco-Bactrian rulers in using Hellenistic styles of image, with a deity on one side and the king on the other. Kings may be shown as a profile head, a standing figure, typically officiating at a fire altar in Zoroastrian style, or mounted on a horse. The artistry of the dies is generally lower than the exceptionally high standards of the best coins of Greco-Bactrian rulers. Continuing influence from Roman coins can be seen in designs of the late 1st and 2nd century CE, and also in mint practices evidenced on the coins, as well as a gradual reduction in the value of the metal in base metal coins, so that they become virtual tokens. Iranian influence, especially in the royal figures and the pantheon of deities used, is even stronger.
context_section_description: The Kushan religious pantheon is extremely varied, as revealed by their coins and their seals, on which more than 30 different gods appear, belonging to the Hellenistic, the Iranian, and to a lesser extent the Indian world. Greek deities, with Greek names are represented on early coins. During Kanishka's reign, the language of the coinage changes to Bactrian (though it remained in Greek script for all kings). After Huvishka, only two divinities appear on the coins: Ardoxsho and Oesho (see details below).
  Representation of entities from Greek mythology and Hellenistic syncretism are:
  Ηλιος (Helios), Ηφαηστος (Hephaistos), Σαληνη (Selene), Ανημος (Anemos). Further, the coins of Huvishka also portray the demi-god erakilo Heracles, and the Egyptian god sarapo Sarapis.
  The Indic entities represented on coinage include:
  Βοδδο (boddo, Buddha)
  Μετραγο Βοδδο (metrago boddo, bodhisattava Maitreya)
  Mαασηνo (maaseno, Mahasena)
  Σκανδo koμαρo (skando komaro, Skanda Kumara)
  þακαμανο Βοδδο (shakamano boddho, Shakyamuni Buddha)
  The Iranian entities depicted on coinage include:
  Αρδοχþο (ardoxsho, Ashi Vanghuhi)
  Aþαειχþo (ashaeixsho, Asha Vahishta)
  Αθþο (athsho, Atar)
  Φαρρο (pharro, Khwarenah)
  Λροοασπο (lrooaspa, Drvaspa)
  Μαναοβαγο, (manaobago, Vohu Manah)
  Μαο (mao, Mah)
  Μιθρο, Μιιρο, Μιορο, Μιυρο (mithro and variants, Mithra)
  Μοζδοοανο (mozdooano, Mazda *vana "Mazda the victorious?")
  Νανα, Ναναια, Ναναϸαο (variations of pan-Asiatic nana, Sogdian nny, in a Zoroastrian context Aredvi Sura Anahita)
  Οαδο (oado Vata)
  Oαxþo (oaxsho, "Oxus")
  Ooρoμoζδο (ooromozdo, Ahura Mazda)
  Οραλαγνο (orlagno, Verethragna)
  Τιερο (tiero, Tir)
  Additionally:
  Οηϸο (oesho), long considered to represent Indic Shiva,  but more recently identified as Avestan Vayu conflated with Shiva.
  Two copper coins of Huvishka bear a 'Ganesa' legend, but instead of depicting the typical theriomorphic figure of Ganesha, have a figure of an archer holding a full-length bow with string inwards and an arrow. This is typically a depiction of Rudra, but in the case of these two coins is generally assumed to represent Shiva.
caption: Skanda and Visakha
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