Sale: Triton VIII, Lot: 691. Estimate $2000.  Closing Date: Monday, 10 January 2005.  Sold For $1800. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ANCIENT. INDIA, Kushans. Magra (Rebel). 4th Century AD. AV Dinar (7.56 gm, 12h). Degraded Greek legend, Magra, nimbate, standing facing, head turned left, holding staff topped with a chakra (wheel) in his left hand, sacrificing over altar to left; trident with ribbon to left, uncertain symbol and "Magra" in Brahmi to right / [ARDOCFO], Ardoksho, nimbate, seated facing, holding investiture garland with bands in her right hand, cornucopiae in left; tamgha to upper left, three pellets to upper right. MK 578 ("Usurper I"); Donum Burns 744 ("Maiores domus"); MACW -; Skanda Collection (Singapore Coin Auction, Spink-Taisei 9, 20 February 1991), lot 89. VF, edge marks. Extremely rare. ($2000)

The rebel Magra is unknown apart from his coins. The depiction of a staff topped with a chakra, in place of the usual banner, suggests a link to the Kacha type of the Gupta king Samudragupta, and Magra may have been an ally of the Guptas against the Kushans.