KUSHAN, Kujula Kadphises, c. 10-35 AD, pentachalkon

DescriptionKujula Kadphises may or may not have been a son of Heraios. Chased out of the west by Gondophares the Indo-Parthian he retired east, regrouped, and expanded back into the west when Gondophares died.The Kushans started as nomads but became cosmopolitan when they conquered Gandhara in western Pakistan. They controlled their section of the Silk Road trade, and patronized Buddhism.The earliest ancient Indian coins were the “bent bar” punchmarked silvers of the Achaemenid Persians occupying Gandhara in northwest Pakistan. By the 3rd century BC coins were in general use in most of India and Ceylon, and in subsequent centuries struck round coins in gold, silver, and copper came into use throughout the subcontinent and beyond to Southeast Asia and Pacific islands to Java and beyond.