id: 160958
accession number: 1999.225
share license status: CC0
url: https://clevelandart.org/art/1999.225
updated: 2023-08-23 23:46:54.791000
Coin of Kushan King Vima Kadphises, AD 100–200s. India, Mathura, Kushan period (AD 1-320). Gold; diameter: 2.2 cm (7/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Anonymous Gift 1999.225
title: Coin of Kushan King Vima Kadphises
title in original language:
series:
series in original language:
creation date: AD 100–200s
creation date earliest: 100
creation date latest: 299
current location: 242A Ancient India
creditline: Anonymous Gift
copyright:
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culture: India, Mathura, Kushan period (AD 1-320)
technique: gold
department: Indian and Southeast Asian Art
collection: Indian Art - Kushan, Mathura
type: Coins
find spot:
catalogue raisonne:
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CREATORS
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measurements: Diameter: 2.2 cm (7/8 in.)
state of the work:
edition of the work:
support materials:
inscriptions:
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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS
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LEGACY EXHIBITIONS
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PROVENANCE
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
date: 1999–
footnotes:
citations:
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fun fact:
digital description:
wall description:
This gold coin represents the reigns of the Kushana ruler, Vima Kadphises. The coin bears a portrait of the ruler on the obverse and various deities on the reverse. It is identified by an inscription in Kharosthi, the language used in northwestern India during the Kushan period.
The reverse depicts the figure of Hercules with the skin of the Nemean lion draped over his forearm and the lion's scalp also worn over his head. The Kushans primarily identified with Zoroastrian religious practice, but imagery on their coins and the religious groups they sponsored suggest they were ecumenical--open to supporting a wide range of sects.
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RELATED WORKS
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CITATIONS
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IMAGES
web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1999.225/1999.225_web.jpg
print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1999.225/1999.225_print.jpg
full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1999.225/1999.225_full.tif