Nandi Lowering Head to Three-Faced Siva

Triton XX, Lot: 437. Estimate $5000. Sold for $10000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

INDIA, Kushan Empire. Vasudeva I. Circa AD 192-225. AV Dinar (21mm, 8.06 g, 12h). Main mint in Baktria (Balkh?). Early phase. ÞαO(retrograde h)α(retrograde h)OÞαO Bα ZOαkO KOÞ(retrograde h)O, Vasudeva, nimbate, helmeted, and diademed, standing facing, head left, holding trident, sacrificing over altar to left; filleted trident to left / OhÞO upward to left, three-faced Siva standing facing, holding a garland or diadem in extended right hand and trident in left; behind, the bull Nandi standing left with head downward to right; tamgha to upper left. MK 501/1 (dies O1/4) Cribb & Bracey F.G1i = FdS 266 = Rosenfield 208 = BM Inv. 1879,0501.91; Cunningham 8 (same reverse die); ANS Kushan –; cf. Donum Burns 503 (for type). EF, light toning in devices, evidence of having been placed in a bezel. Extremely rare, one of three examples known from this die pair.