Kanishka I – Kushan Empire –  Copper ¼ unit with Oesho (Shiva) type

Kushan Empire, Kanishka I, (r. 127-150 CE), Denomination: 1/4 Unit or AE Drachm, Composition: Copper, Weight 3.56 grm, Diameter 17 mm, Reference: MACW 3185-3187, about fine, + Rare.

Obverse: Crowned king standing facing, holding spear and sacrificing at altar at left, Bactrian legend around

Reverse: Ithyphallic Oesho (Shiva) standing left, holding trishul and kalash, with Bactrian legend OHPO at right

Kanishka I (c. 127–150 CE) was the most powerful ruler of the Kushan Empire, presiding over its golden age. His empire stretched from Central Asia to northern India, including Gandhara, Kashmir, and the Gangetic plains, making the Kushans a major link between Rome, Persia, and China through Silk Route trade. Kanishka is especially remembered for his religious tolerance and patronage of multiple traditions. While he is closely associated with the promotion of Mahayana Buddhism—traditionally credited with convening the Fourth Buddhist Council at Kashmir—his coinage clearly reflects a pluralistic outlook.

This copper ¼ unit represents the eastern or Jammu–Kashmir series of Kushan coinage, struck for regional circulation. The obverse follows the standard Kushan imperial motif of the king performing a fire sacrifice, symbolizing royal legitimacy and divine favor. The reverse depicts Oesho, identified with Shiva, emphasizing the strong Shaivite influence in the northwestern and Himalayan regions. Such coins are historically important for illustrating the Kushan synthesis of Iranian, Indian, and Hellenistic religious ideas.