Kushans, Huvishka, Gold Dinar, 7.97g, “Skandakumara – Vishakha” type, Obv: Diademed, crowned and draped half-length bust of Huvishka, with flaming shoulder, rising from mountains, facing left, holding mace-sceptre in one hand and a lion-headed standard in the other, Bactrian legend “ShAONANO ShAO OOEShKI KOShANO” around, Rev: Two male deities, nimbate and wearing dhoti, standing facing each other, each holding a long spear and resting a hand on the hilt of sword tied to the waist with tamgha between them, Bactrian legend “SKAN” below, “DO KOM” to left, “AR” above and “O BIZAGO” to right (Göbl 156 (same pair of dies). Tiny test mark on edge otherwise extremely fine+, exceedingly rare.
The legend on the reverse of this coin identifies the male deities as ‘Skandakumara’ and ‘Vishakha’, two forms which eventually became assimilated with the iconography of Karttikeya, the son of Lord Shiva. It offers important evidence that in the 2nd century, they were treated and worshipped as individual gods. Huvishka also issued coins with Skanda, Kumara and Vishakha as three separate deities, in addition to Mahasena, who was also later identified with Karttikeya. Coins with multiple deities are extremely rare, as indicated by specimens that are often encountered struck using the same pair of dies.