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The Khushans (derives from Chinese term Guishang) were one of the Yueh-Chi tribes.
Pushed westward by the Hsuing-nu and Parthians they settled in Bactria, from where they launched conquest of Northern Hindustan (India) and built an important empire that established commercial relations with China and Rome. It was a multi ethnic Kingdom strongly influenced by Hellenism. They kept the Greek style of coinage and alphabets for minting their coins, mainly Zoroastrian gradually also embraced the Hellenized way of Buddhism in opposition to Aryan Brahmanism.
The Kushans are credited as founders of Peshawar (Purushapura).
The ruler Kujula Kadphises established the greatest Empire of India, called Kushana, leaving the first self proclaimed King Herios (ruled 1-30 AD) one step away to become the tribesmen. After getting hold of Bactria from Scythians and Indo Parthians, Kajula moved to Gandhara with the capital at Taxila, & summer capital Begram. With these Kushans became master traders, adopted Greek legends and struck their own gold coins featuring Kushan royal portraits, Greek mottos and symbols inspired by Roman Coin.
Due to their Central position of the Silk Road, Kushans became a world power.
In 48 AD Kujula crossed Hindu Kush and formed an alliance with Greek King Harmaeus, in the Kabul valley, which allowed Kujula�s son Vima Kadphises to defeat Scythians in northern India and established an empire. Kajula issued many copper coins and very few silvers, his earliest issues bears the bust of Harmaeus on obverse and Herakles on revese. He also initiated diademed head of the Emperor Augustus (C.31 BC � 14 AD) on Roman Coins. His coin type bull on obverse and double humped Bactrian camel on reverse reflects the nomadic habits of Kushanas. The coin type of helmeted head of Macedonian Soldier shows his inheritance from Indo Greek coinage. All his coins are bilingual, Greek on obverse and Kharosthi on reverse.
Vima Kadphisis, successor of Kajula Kadphisis was the last to issue bilingual coins. His reign is a landmark in the history of Kushana coinage because he issued extensive gold coinage, these were of three denominations; double denaira, and quarter denaira third one is rare.
Vima is portrayed on obverse in various postures � seated on couch, coated cross legged, seated in a Jharoka (window), riding on elephant, driving in a biga and standing sacrificing at altar (only on copper coins). He also used Siva on the reverse of his coins and used title �Mahesvara� .
The Vima Takha King, Soter Megas, followed his predecessors coinage, such as Mathura type copper drachm, Attic weight standard copied from Yue-chi copies of Heliocles only with Greek legend, his billion tetradrachms and drachms from Pahlava coinage, the helmeted head copper coins of Kapisa or Bactria, hami obols of Eucratides. He also issued general coinage.
Kanishka, issued coins only in copper and gold, only one type of obverse, the King Clad in coat and trousers is standing at the alter wearing helmet and deaden with spear in his left hand. The legend is in Greek, Baseileus, Basileon and Kaniskon i.e. coins of Kanishka, King of Kings. On the reverse he introduced three deities with Greek names � Helios, Salena and Hephaistos.
He also introduced a new language � the middle Iranian or Khotanese Saka, bearing the legend Shahanano Shao Kaneske Koshano, Kaniska, the Kushana King of Kings. On the reverse of these coins deities � male and female bearing the Iranian names � Mithera or Mithra (sun), Mao (moon), Oado (vayu, wind) Orlagno and many more. He also introduced the figure of Buddha with the legend Buddo, and retained Siva as well as used Zoroastrian deity.
Huvishka, seems to rule for long as evident from his inscription dated between 28 and 64 AD, this fact is also attested by a large number of coins left by him. Obverse of his coins King's bust in various designs, and reverse bears figures of deities belong to various religions.
Vasu Deva, issued coins both in gold and copper, which are common in Punjab and north west India. Date of inscription are 67 to 98 AD. He adopted the obverse device of Kanishka, and the reverse device is reduced to two deities Nana and Oesho (Siva).
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