But after the brief early issues, Kanishka's coins switch to carrying Bactrian legends. Until that time, Greek had been the lingua franca of the region and indeed the first coins of KanishkaĬarry Greek legends as did the coins of all his forebears (see images below). He is recording this inscription in the Arian (or Bactrian) language. Second, it shows Kanishka to be a nationalist: he explicitly states that First, it clearly establishes that Kanishka created a new era, because it is dated in year one. But there are at least three other very important revelations in the It is this part of the inscription that has received the most attention. This established his geneaology, with Kujula Kadphises, Vima Takto (or Takha) and Vima Kadphisesīeing named as his immediate ancestors.

The most important inscription of Kanishka is the Rabatak Inscription. Given that we have dated inscriptions naming Kanishka as the king with dates as high asĢ3, this would put Kanishka's reign at c. The argument of Harry Falk that the Kanishka era should be dated to the year 127. Although there are a few dissenting voices still holding out for alternatives, most authors have now accepted The uncertainty over this date is now finally coming to an end. Establishing the date of Kanishka has been a major point of historical research for over 100 years. More importantly, Kanishka is central to historical discussions of the time because he is known

Supposed to have built in Peshawar a great stupa holding relics of the Buddha. He owes much of his fame to his place in early Buddhist literature, where he is mentioned as a patron of Buddhism and the convener of the Fourth Buddhist Council. Kanishka I is no doubt the most famous Kushan king and even perhaps the greatest, although his son Huvishka's empire was probably bigger (and coinage more copious). The COININDIA Coin Galleries: Kushan: Kanishka

Kanishka coinage