k i d a r i t e s
k u s h a n o - s a s a n i a n g o v e r n o r s
i n t e r m e d i a t e g r o u p s
k i d a r i t e s
k u s h a n o - s a s a n i a n g o v e r n o r s
i n t e r m e d i a t e g r o u p s
The Kidarites are also referred to as Chionites (from the Middle Persian word xiyon, 'Hun'), a Hunnic tribe that crashed into the eastern frontiers of Iran and the northern ones of the Kushans circa 320 A.D. A people different from the Hephthalites, the Chionites were called 'Red' Huns; the Hephthalites 'White'. Shortly after 340 (?) A.D., their enigmatic leader Kidara pushed the Kushans out of northern Pakistan and gave his name to this short-lived dynasty. At the end of the 4th century, a new wave of Hunnic tribes (Alchon Huns (?)) invaded Bactria, pushing the Kidarites into Gandhara. The Kidarites in northern India continued to mint debased gold and copper coins until the end of the 5th century. Dates and attributions below are questionable (one look at the smorgasbord below and you know something is fishy). Göbl's classification Em. 1 through 32.r e f e r e n c e s
'Varhran'
AR Drachm
Cribb SI 19, #78; Mitchiner ACW 1305v., Göbl Hunnen Em. 8
29 mm.
3.84 gm. (10% loss of metal from chipping)
Die position=3h
Obverse: Bearded bust right wearing earring and personal headdress with pendants and 'poppyhead-globe' ornament above. Ribbon flows back from crown. Pahlavi legend, slightly abbrieviated.
Reverse: Fire altar with two attendants holding swords (?); three Brahmi letters below.
'Varhran'
AR Drachm
29 mm.
4.59 gm.
Göbl 8v.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=23 mm.; diameter of reverse border=24 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note: Cast forgery. Courtesy Robert W. Schaaf collection. This was the first coin brought to my attention (late 2004) in a series of cast fakes of this obscure series. The earliest example I know of was posted on Zeno (#5131) by Haroon Tareen (Secretary of the PNS) in April, 2004. Seen one at a time, they were difficult to fault (although most are obviously casts -- including the above); towards the end of 2005, many appeared for sale on eBay. A scan of a group these forgeries (and I still have others to add) is available here: Göbl 8-9 Forgeries
'Varhran'
AR Drachm
Cribb SI 19, #78; Mitchiner ACW 1305, Göbl Hunnen Em. 9
27 x 25 mm.
2.71 gm.
Die position=4h
Obverse: Bearded bust right wearing earring and personal headdress with pendants and 'poppyhead-globe' ornament above. Ribbon flows back from crown. Pahlavi legend, slightly abbrieviated.
Reverse: Fire altar with two attendants holding swords (?); two Brahmi letters below.
Kidara (circa 360 AD (?))
AR Drachm
29 x 28 mm.
3.93 gm.
Göbl Hunnen Em. 11 (Kidarites), Mitchiner ACW -
Diameter of obverse dotted border=24 mm.; diameter of reverse border=24 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note: Courtesy Robert W. Schaaf collection.
'Gadahara' (Kidara) (circa 320 AD (?))
AV Stater
Göbl Kushan 609; Mitchiner ACW 3594
18 mm.
7.74 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: King left, holding trident in raised left hand; right hand lowered to altar, trident above. Brahmi legends: in left field, KaPaN (?); below arm, KiDaRa; in right field, GaDaHaRa.
Reverse: Goddess Ardoksho enthroned, facing; holding cornucopia. Tamgha in upper left field.
'Varhran'
AR Drachm
Cribb SI 19 -; Mitchiner ACW 1311 [Varhran II Kushanshah], Göbl Hunnen Em. 28A [Hunnic Intermediate Group - 'Varhran']
28 x 29 mm.
2.96 gm.
Diameter of obverse dotted border=22 mm.; diameter of reverse border=26 mm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Bust of Shapur II right; Pahlavi legend.
Reverse: Fire altar with two attendants.
'Varhran' (circa 425 AD (?))
AR Drachm
Göbl Hunnen Em. 30 (Iranian Huns Intermediate Group), Mitchiner ACW 1322 [same dies] (Varhran III Kushanshah)
30 mm.
3.98 gm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Imitative of Varhran IV (388 - 399 AD). Blundered Pahlavi legend.
Reverse:
'Varhran' (circa 425 AD (?))
AR Drachm
Göbl Hunnen Em. 30 (Iranian Huns Intermediate Group), Mitchiner ACW 1322 (Varhran III Kushanshah)
31 mm.
4.06 gm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Imitative of Varhran IV (388 - 399 AD). Blundered Pahlavi legend.
Reverse:
Note: Courtesy Robert W. Schaaf collection.
'Varhran' (circa 425 AD (?))
AR Drachm
Göbl Hunnen Em. 30 (Iranian Huns Intermediate Group), Mitchiner ACW 1322 (Varhran III Kushanshah)
28 x 29 mm.
3.59 gm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Imitative of Varhran IV (388 - 399 AD). Blundered Pahlavi legend.
Reverse:
Anonymous (circa 360 - 460 AD)
AE Unit
Mitchiner ACW 3677v.; Göbl Hunnen Em. 187 type
19 x 17 mm.
4.85 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse:
Reverse:
Anonymous (circa 360 - 460 AD)
AE Unit
Mitchiner ACW 3672v.; Göbl Hunnen Em. 187 type
17 x 19 mm.
4.57 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse:
Reverse:
Vinayaditya (late 5th Century AD)
AV Debased Stater (?)
Mitchiner ACW 3656v.
20 x 19 mm.
6.87 gm.
Die position=11h
Obverse: Formalized Kushan standing king.
Reverse: Semi-realistic enthroned Ardoksho.
Uncertain Ruler
Very Debased AV Stater (?)
Mitchiner ACW 3661 - 3662 type
21 x 22 mm.
6.06 gm.
Die position=5h
Obverse: Formalized Kushan standing king.
Reverse: Semi-realistic enthroned Ardoksho.
Uncertain Ruler
Very Debased AV Stater (?)
Mitchiner ACW 3661 - 3662 type
22 mm.
6.49 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Formalized Kushan standing king.
Reverse: Semi-realistic enthroned Ardoksho.
Kidarites/Taxila Series
Dumpy Crude Series
AE Unit
Mitchiner ACW 3740v.
11 mm.
2.88 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Stylized standing king.
Reverse: Shiva and bull reduced to straight lines.
Kidarites/Taxila Series
Dumpy Crude Series
AE Unit
Mitchiner ACW 3740v.
12 mm.
2.85 gm.
Die position=10h
Obverse: Stylized standing king.
Reverse: Shiva and bull reduced to straight lines.
b a c k t o a n c i e n t c o i n s
