176 KUSHAN KINGS

coins issued by kings using the names of Kanishko and Vasu (Deva).
Gold coins of the Vasu Deva type continued to be struck in Gandhara
by chiefs of the original Yue-chi stock, who are usually known as the
Lesser Kushans. The so-called Kushano-Sassanian pieces, the result
of Sassanian invasions of the Kabul Valley, are found on the Sistan
side, and were probably struck in the fourth and fifth centuries
of our era. A copper coinage, very much debased, but undoubtedly
designed on the old Kushan model, persisted in Kashmir from the
sixth to the sixteenth century.

The widest divergence of opinion exists as to the position in time,
and the sequence of the Kadphises and Kanishka groups of Kushan
kings. Numismatists have usually had no hesitation in placing the
Kadphises group before the Kanishka group, and I have followed
this convention. For a typical presentment of this view see
H. Olclenberg's 'The Era of Kaniska', Journal of the Pali Text
Society, 1912. Mr. Vincent Smith—I. M. Gat,, vol. i, p. 64—holds
that the following chronology of accessional dates is approximately
correct:

Kadphises I A. D. 45 or 50.

Kadphises II (Wema Kadphises) A. D. 85.
Kanishka A. D.I 20.

Huvishka A. D. 150.

Vasu Deva A, D. 180.

No less than eleven theories have been broached regarding the
date of Kanishka. They carry the initial year in which the Kushan
inscriptions are dated over a period ranging from 58 B. c. to A. D. 278
—see V. A. Smith, 'The Kushan Period of Indian History', J.E. A.S.,
1903, and E. D. Banerji", 'The Scythian Period of Indian History',
Indian Antiquary, 1908. Dr. J, F. Fleet holds that Kanishka
established the era dating from 58 B, c., which subsequently became
known as the Vikrama era. This view involves the assumption that
the Kanishka group preceded the Kadphises kings* It is only a year
ago that Mr. J. Kennedy in his paper, 'The Secret of Kanishka*,
J.B.A.S., 1912, has with much learning and ingenuity advocated
this theory afresh, A reply by Dr. Thomas, Librarian of the India
Office, and the subsequent discussion, are reported in the Journal
of the Royal Asiatic Society for the present year, 1913. The entire
ground is fully covered by these contributions, to which I refer the
reader. The final decision still awaits the excavator's find.

The copper issues of the Kushans are strongly represented in this
Collection. The Buddha type of Kadaphes makes its appearance
In a Museum Catalogue for the first time, and very few of the copper
types of Kanishka and Huvishka are missing. There are four specimens