INTRODUCTION 175

fact alone is a clear indication of the power and prosperity of the
Kushan rule. Sir Atirel Stein has remarked that the copper coins
of Kanishka and other Kushan sovereigns are to be got in such
numbers in the bazars of the Western Panjab, Kashmir, and Kabuls
that one might almost say that they have remained in circulation for
eighteen centuries. Gold coins also of Kanishka and Huvishka have
come to light in these parts in relatively large numbers.

The effigy of Kanishka on the coins closely resembles the standing
figure of Vima Kadphises, and is radiate. On the small gold pieces
we are given a half or quarter length portrait, but this is quite
distinct from the similar portraiture of Vima Kadphises. The
usual representation of Huvishka on his abundant gold coinage is
a characteristic head or half-length figure in four different styles—
see Cunningham, JVum. Chron., 1892, p. 98. On the copper coins
the king is generally represented as riding an elephant, reclining
on a couch, or seated in a cross-legged attitude. He is never shown
standing, as on the coins of Vima Kadphises and Kanishka. But
the monetary issues of Vasu Deva invariably depict him in an attitude
closely resembling the standing figure of Kanishka. The reverse
sides of the coins of Kanishka and Huvishka present us with a strange
and extensive gallery of deities with Greek, Buddhist, Indian, and
Iranian names. Mr. J. Kennedy remarks that it was from Babylonia
and Mesene that Kanishka derived the greater part of his pantheon,
a pantheon perhaps without an equal until Heliogabalus in his youthful
extravagance assembled all the gods of the Empire on the Capitol at
Koine to do homage to the black stone of Emesa—cThe Secret of
Kanishka', J.B.A.S., 1912, p. 1003, In his Coins of the Kushans,
Cunningham gives a list of thirty-three types. The deities, mainly
Zoroastrian in character, are also described in Stein's Zoroastrian
Deities on Indo-Scythian Coins, and in the British Museum Catalogue.
For other references see Professor E. J, Eapson's Indian Coins, p. 18,
§ 73. The full pantheon of some thirty deities is confined to the medals
of Kanishka and Huvishka. Vasu Deva figures only the goddesses
Nana and Ardokhsho, and the Indian Oesho or 6iva. Much has
already been written on this subject, and I do not propose to deal
with it at any greater length in this Introductory Note. A full list
of the deities is given in the Catalogue.

It would seem that not long after the reign of Vasu Deva, the
external power of the Kushans was considerably reduced. The rise
of the Gupta Empire is dated from the fourth century, and it would
appear that the Kushan dominion was forced back into the territories
where it had originally grown into power, the Kabul Valley, and
Gandhara. It ,is to this decadent period that we must ascribe the