continuously with the rest of the marginal legend. None of the coins of Azos bear his head, nor in general have they his effigy, unless the seated figure in figs. 12 and 13 represent him, as is probably the case, seated on a cushioned throne, with a sceptre on his lap. The mode of sitting, it should be remarked, is entirely oriental, and the animals depicted are such as belong peculiarly to the East-the elephant, the Brahmaní bull, the lion, and the Bactrian camel. The cyphers or symbols on the reverse of these coins seem evidently compounded of Pehlvi letters, on the same principle as those of the more genuine Greek coins, from Greek letters; they may probably denote dates, but it will require much labour to establish this point, and the same symbol appearing on coins of very different devices, as on figs. 2 and 11, rather militates against the supposition.

It is a peculiarity of the coinage of this period, that the pieces were of a very debased metal, washed over with silver somewhat in the manner of the coins of the Roman emperor, Gallienus, and his successors, and denominated 'billion' by numismatologists. Is it possible that the scarcity of silver to which the origin of this species of coin has been attributed in the West, had extended even to India? if so, it will fix the date to the latter half of the third century. At any rate, it is fair to suppose that the system was copied from the Roman coins, to which many other circumstances of imitation may be traced; among these, the soldier trampling on his vanquished foe in fig. 14; and the radiated heat of fig. 26, the coin without a name, which is connected with the rest of the series by the equestrian reverse, seems an imitation of the radiated crown of the Roman emperors of the same period.

Plate xvi. figs. 1, 2, 3. Three coins of Azos, having, on the obverse, a Bráhmaní bull, and on the reverse, a panther or lion. The monograms on all three differ: legends in Greek and Pehlví as above described.

Figs. 4, 5. On these the bull is placed with the Pehlví on the reverse, while a well-formed elephant occupies the place of honour on the obverse.

Figs. 6, 7, 8. In these the place of the elephant is taken by a Bactrian camel of two humps. No name is visible on any, but the Pehlvi word is plain on No. 8, and their general appearance allows us to class them with the foregoing coins of Azos.

Fig. 9. Here a horseman, with couched spear, in a square or frame, occupies the obverse, and the bull again the reverse: the word Azou is distinct on both sides. The device and attitude of the horseman will be seen to link this series with the coins of Nonos, Azilios, and others, that are as yet nameless.

Figs. 10, 11. A figure seated on a chair, holding a cornucopia, marks the obverse of this variety; while on the reverse, we perceive a Hercules or Mercury. It was from fig. 11, (a coin presented by Mohan Lál to Dr. Grant,) that I first discovered the name AZOT, afterwards traceable on so many others.

Figs. 12, 13. The obverse of this variety affords important information in the attitude of the seated prince. It plainly proves him to be oriental.

The scarf on the erect figure of the reverse is also peculiar. This coin accords with one depicted in the Manikyála plate, vol. iii. pl. xxvi. [viii.] fig. 2.

Plate xvii., fig. 14 is one of six coins in the Ventura cabinet of the same type. The soldier trampling on a prostrate foe betokens some victory. The female figure on the reverse, enveloped in flowers, seemed to point to some mythological metamorphosis. The name and titles are distinct.

Figs. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, are all closely allied, while they serve to explain figs. 11, 12, and 15, in the plate of Burnes' coins, ('Jour. As. Soc. Beng.,' ii., p. 314,) and figs. 30, 31, 32, 33, 45, of Masson's fourth series, (vol. iii. pl. x.) They are for the most part of copper, plated, or billion, and, in consequence, well preserved; the single Pehlví letters 9, 1, and may be observed as monograms, besides the usual compounds. On 21 and 22 are the first indications of a fire-altar."

Fig. 22. This copper coin is the last on which the name Azos' occurs, and although quite distinct in the Pehlví, it is corrupt and illegible in the Greek. The device is similar to the preceding, with the exception of a curious circular monogram,

which will be found also on the coins of Kadaphes hereafter. Masson's fig. 47, is the same coin.

Fig. 23, A very deeply-cut coin, commences a new series, in which the form of the Greek letters is materially changed. The legend is now BACIAEVC BACIASшN, CшTHP METAC, without the insertion of any name; and the monogram is the one frequently described as the 'key' symbol, or the trident with a ring below it.

In Pehlví, the first portion corresponds with the Greek; the conclusion is, unfortunately, not visible. The letter appears on the field of the reverse, which bears the portrait of a priest, extending his hand over a small fire-altar.

Figs. 24 and 25 may be safely called varieties of the above, still retaining the Pehlvi on the reverse. A counterpart of fig. 24 will be found in fig. 15 of Burnes'

collection.

Fig. 26. This is by far the most common coin discovered in the Panjab and Afghánistán. Bags-full have been sent down in excellent preservation, and yet nothing can be elicited from them. The present specimen is engraved from a coin in Col. Stacy's cabinet, found in Málwa; but the same coin has been engraved in the Asiatic Researches,' vol. xvii.; in Burnes' collection, fig. 13; also, 10 of pl. xiv., in the same volume: and in Masson's series, 26, 27, 28. It was the first coin found in India on which Greek characters were discovered or noticed. The trident' monogram connects it with the foregoing series; but it is impossible to say to whom they both belong. I have placed them next to Azos, from the similarity of the horseman. They are all copper coins, of high relief, and generally in good preservation.

AZILISUS.

Figs. 27, 28. Were it not that the name of these two coins is distinctly AZIAIZOT in the Greek, and [Ayilishasa] in the Pehlví, they might have been classed in the preceding group, especially with fig. 9. The bull of fig. 28 is surmounted by two monograms, like those of the Lysius coins. It is so far singular, that while the name of the prince Azilisus seems compounded of the two names Azos and Lysius, the obverse and reverse of his coins should be counterparts of theirs. The name itself is quite new, and we can only venture to assign his position in proximity to his prototype, Azos.

HERMEUS.
(pl. xviii.)

Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4. One silver and three copper coins of Hermæus, selected from a considerable number, in order to develop the whole circle of marginal inscription, seldom complete on a single specimen. The description of one will serve for all, since, contrary to usage, the impression on the silver and copper is precisely alike. Fig. 1. A silver coin in the Gerard collection.

OBVERSE.-The king's head with simple diadem; legend, in corrupted Greek, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ ΕΓΜΑΙΟΥ.

REVERSE.-Jupiter seated; his right hand extended. Pehlvi legend, malakdo rakako Ermayo. Máhárajasa Tradatasa Hermayasa.]

Masson supposes Hermæus I. to have reigned at Nysa ( hod. Jalálábád,) because one of the topes opened in that neighbourhood contained several of his coins; they have, however, been found in equal abundance in the Panjáb, and it will be safer in the present paucity of our knowledge to adhere to the general term 'Bactrian,' without attempting to subdivide the Greek dominion into the separate states of which it probably consisted throughout the whole period of their rule.

UNADPHERRUS.

Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8. Four coins of the prince made known to us by Masson under the name of Unadpherrus.' They are numerous, of rude fabric, and more clear on the Pehlvi than the Greek side. The device on all is the same, namely:

1 Masson attri

ser to a prince whom he nod

OBVERSE.-A bearded head with diadem: inscription, as made out from the combined specimens, BACIAENC CUTHPOZ VNA Perrov in some, the titles are in the nominative case.

REVERSE.—A winged figure of Victory, holding out a chaplet or bow: Pehlví inscription, [Máhárajasa Godopharasa (here Godaphanisa ?) Tradatasa.] which may be rendered, in roman characters, malakao fareto nanado; or the last word may be for owτnpos. If be p and h, we might convert the word, letter for letter, into phero; making fan r. The first half of the name (VNA or VNAA) seems to be omitted in the Pehlví, unless nanado be intended for it; but then the title 'Saviour' will be wanting.

The only recorded name that at all approaches to this barbarous appellation is Phraotes or Phrahates, whom Philostratus asserts to have reigned at Taxiles, south of the Indus, about the commencement of the Christian era. He was visited by Apollonius Tyanæus in his travels, who conversed with him in the Greek language. The execution of the coins before us does not well agree with the magnificence and elegance of Phraotes' court, as described by Philostratus: 'the residence of dignified virtue and sublime philosophy;'1 but much allowance may be made for exaggeration. The Bactrian sway was already broken, and the country in a disturbed state. 'Whether Parthian or Indian, Phraotes was tributary to the Southern Scythians, whom he gladly subsidized to defend him against the more savage Huns, who finally drove before them the Scythians, who had seized upon the Bactrian kingdom.' 2 Apollonius describes a magnificent temple of the Sun at Taxiles. The fact, frequently mentioned in history, of the native princes of India conversing and writing in Greek, is satisfactorily confirmed by the discovery of the present coins bearing Greek legends with names evidently native.

Figs. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. This very numerous group of copper coins is attributed by Masson to Ermæus the Second, the first three letters of whose name certainly appear on some few specimens (as fig. 10); but his name is not to be found on the reverse in the Pehlví, which is totally distinct from the preceding coins, and yet it is the same on all the specimens I have compared; although great variety exists in the Greek legends, as if they had been copied at random from other coins. The device of all is the same.

OBVERSE.-A head with curly hair, no beard; in general, miserably engraved.
For marginal inscription, fig 9 has
ΛΕΩΣ ΣΤΗΡΟΣ . . . ΣΥΛΟ.

Fig. 10, ΒΑΣΙΛΕ . . ΕΓΜ . .

Fig. 11: NO KAA÷ICHC: and fig. 12, BAZIAENE

.EUT.

REVERSE.-A spirited figure of Hercules, standing with his club, and lion-skin cloak. Pehlvi inscription, as well as it can be made out from a careful examination of a great many specimens. [Dhamaphidasa KujulaKasasa Kushanyatugasa.]

This text differs so entirely from all we have hitherto seen, that I cannot attempt to decypher it, nor even to distinguish the titles from the name. I have merely placed at the head, from a faint trace of the initial word malakdo, between the letters of which, other characters appear to be introduced. The decided trace of Kadphises' name on several coins of the type, inclines me to place it at the lowest station in the present series, as a link with the series, already fully described, of that Indo-Scythic sovereign: and it will be remarked that the letter or symbol is visible on the bull and rájá coins of this prince also; indeed their whole Pehlví inscription much resembles, if it does not coincide entirely, with the present examples.

KADAPHES.

Figs. 14, 15, 16. If anything were wanting, however, to connect the two lines,

1 Maurice's Modern Hindostan,' i., 152.

2 Ibid, i., 142.

these coins would supply the gap. One of them was presented by Lieut. Burnes to the Society, and was mistaken for the horseman coin previously described. The name was more fully made out from six coins of Ventura's and three of Karámat 'Ali's collections. The monogram agrees with one of the Azos series, fig. 22, as before remarked.

OBVERSE.-A neatly engraved head with diadem and legend

ΧΟΡΑΝΟΥ.

ΚΑΔΑΦΕΣ

REVERSE.-Jupiter seated, left hand extended; the 'wheel' monogram, and legend in nearly the same characters as that of the preceding coins. [Khushanasa Yánása Kuyala Kaphasasa sachha dhani phiḍasa.]

This coin will form an appropriate conclusion to my present notice, which, I believe, has embraced all the specimens properly attributable to the Bactrian group. The fire-altar on the next or Indo-Scythic coinage, forms a convenient mark of distinction, as well as the disuse of the Pehlví character, which extends no further than to the first coinage of the series, namely, that of Kadphises, with the 'bull' reverse; and is quite illegible there, while the Greek is comparatively distinct. This group has, however, been sufficiently described in my former papers.

(Before closing my present notice, I must use my privilege of amending the theory I advanced upon one of the coins from the Manikyála tope (vol. iii., pl. xxv., [vii.] fig. 6, p. 441), a Sassanian coin bearing the distinct Sanskrit name of Sri Vásti Deva. This being the patronymic of Krishna, I supposed the figure to represent that god, as the Indian substitute for Mithra or HAIOZ. The face, however, was that of an aged human being, and I think it may be more rationally accounted for as such, on the following grounds.

Ferishta asserts that Básdeo had assumed the throne of Kanauj in the year 330, A.D.; that Bahram, the Persian king, was at his court in disguise, and was recognised by the nobleman who had taken tribute to Persia from the Indian king. Básdeo reigned eighty years, and one of his daughters was married to Bahrám. Now, under these circumstances, it is natural to suppose that the Sassanian monarch, out of compliment, may have affixed his father-in-law's portrait and name on some of his own coins; and the strongest evidence is thus afforded both of the historical fact, and of the date of this individual coin of the Manikyála set.)