Kushans, Heraeus or Kujula Kadphises, Silver Tetradrachm 15.54g, Obv: Diademed and draped bust of Heraeus right, with moustache and goatee in a bead-and-reel border, Rev: Heraeus riding right on horseback, Nike flying right behind, crowning him with wreath, Greek legend “TVIANNOYTΣ HAOY” above, “Σ-AN-AB” between Horse’s legs, “KOIIANOY” below. Very fine, extremely rare.
For a long time, Heraios / Heraeus was considered to be an enigmatic central Asian Scythian king. Meticulous research by Joe Cribb proved that he was the same as Kujula Kadphises, the first Kushan emperor. The coins are mainly confined to the trans-Oxus Sogdiana region.