- Vima Kadphises
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thumb|350px|Coin_of_Vima Kadphises.
Obv: Bust of king emerging from a cloud, with a crested helmet and holding a club. Corrupted Greek language
Rev:Shiva , with a long trident in right hand, and the skin of a tiger in the left. Left, monogram of Vima Kadphises. Right: Buddhisttriratna symbol (or possibly Nandipada).Kharoshthi Vima Kadphises (Kushan language: "Οοημο Καδφισης", Ancient Chinese:阎膏珍) was a
Kushan emperor from around 90-100 CE. As detailed by theRabatak inscription , he was the son ofVima Takto and the father ofKanishka .Vima Kadphises added to the Kushan territory by his conquests in
Afghanistan and north-westIndia .He was the first to introduce gold coinage in India, in addition to the existing copper and silver coinage. Most of the gold seems to have been obtained through trade with the
Roman Empire . The gold weight standard of approximately eight grams corresponds to that of the Roman coins of the 1st century. Gold bullion from Rome would be melted and used for the Kushan mints, into three denominations: the double stater, the stater, and the quarter starter (or dinara).The usage of gold testifies to the prosperity of the Kushan Empire from the time of Vima, being the center of trade between
China (where Vima was known as 阎膏珍),Central Asia andAlexandria andAntioch in the West. The Kushan were able to maintain and protect theSilk road , allowingsilk ,spices ,textiles ormedicine to move between China, India and the West. In particular, many goods were sent by ship to the Roman empire, creating a return flow of gold coins, Greek wine and slaves. Works of arts were also imported from all directions, as indicated by the variety and quality of the artefacts found in the Kushan summer capital ofBagram in Afghanistan. A strong artistic syncretism was stimulated, as indicated by theGreco-Buddhist art ofGandhara .Roman history relates the visit of ambassadors from the Indian kings to the court of
Trajan (98-117 CE), bearing presents and letters in Greek, which were sent either by Vima Kadphises or his son Kanishka.Most of Vima's coins feature the Buddhist symbol of the
Triratana on the reverse (or possibly Shiva's symbol for Nandi, the Nandipada), together with representations ofShiva , with or without his bull.References
* Hill, John E. 2004. "The Western Regions according to the Hou Hanshu." Draft annotated English translation. [http://depts.washington.edu/silkroad/texts/hhshu/hou_han_shu.html]
* Tarn, W. W. (1951). "The Greeks in Bactria and India". 3rd Edition 1984. Ares Publishers, Chicago. ISBN 0-89005-524-6External links
* [http://www.coinarchives.com/a/results.php?results=100&search=Vima+AND+Kadphises Coins of Vima Kadphises]
* [http://www.grifterrec.com/coins/kushan/kushan3.html More coins of Vima Kadphises]
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