Lot 10186 – Post-Kushan, Bengal, c. 2nd-3rd century, king and Ardoksho, AV dinar 6.64 g.

Post-Kushan, Bengal, c. 2nd-4th century, AV dinar 6.64 g. (22 mm). Obverse: imitating Kanishka I, king standing left before rudimentary altar. Reverse: Goddess Ardoksho standing right, holding cornucopia; tamgha to right. Garbled legends both sides. Kumar TOTGE 2024, 18.5.

VF-EF, some weakness to strike, light cleaning.

A rare example of the first striking of local gold coinage in Bengal, these being crude copies of dinars of the Kushan kings Kanishka I and Huvishka. By the early 4th century central India came under the control of the Guptas, and contact with the north was disrupted. At that point Gupta coinage replaced the Kushan imitative issues, which remained unknown until the 1970’s, when the first pieces were identified.

Ex Chand Collection 7.4.12