________________
72
THE EARLY FAITH OF AŞOKA.
Kanerki series, present a slightly lower average, but sustain, in numerous instances, a full measure of 122 grains. So that, allowing for wear or depreciation in recoinage, the official imitative mint-rate would not be far removed from the fall following close upon Julius Cæsar's full average, which progressively reached the lower figures above quoted under Nero. While the coin weights, on the one hand, serve to determine the initial date of the serial issues, the devices above described will suffice, on their part, to indicate the periods of inter-communion with the Imperial history as seen in the periodical introduction of copies of the new Roman types of Mint reverses.
To enable my readers to judge of the state of the religious beliefs of Upper India and the adjoining countries to the northward and westward, I have taken advantage of the very important discovery of the gold coins of the Scythic period above described, to compile, or rather to enlarge a previous Table, exhibiting the names of the multitudinous gods recognized amid the various nationalities who, at this time, bowed to the Indo-Scythian sway.
_ ? Numismatic Chronicle, n.s. vol. xii. 1872, p. 113. My “Sassanians in Persia” (Trübner, 1873), p. 43.
% The faith or dominant creed of the three brothers, Kanerki, Ooerki, and Vasudeva (Hushka, Jushka, Kanishka), or that of their subjects, may be tested by the devices of the Peshawar hoard of their coins.
KANERKI, Karnpki.
OOERKI, Oompki.
Bazdeo, Bacoono.
1. Mupo 2. Melpo 3. Mao 4. Apo 6. Nava pao
1. Nava 2. Okpo, under nu.
merous forms
1. Plan
10. Mavao sayo 2. Hpakilo 11. Apo 3. pon
lla. Pao pn@po 4. Zapato
12. Apaelxpo 5. Zepo
13. Pappo 6. Οανινδο
14. Nava 7. Milpa (Mupo, 15. Orpo
Miopo, Mopo, 16. Apdoxpo etc.)
17. Maaonvo 8. Mao
Σκανδο 9. Mao with
18. Kouapo Μιιρο
Bucayo
This table is confined to the list of 93 specimens, selected from the total Peshawar find of 524 coins, as numismatic examples for deposit in the British Museum, The 60 coins brought home by Sir Bartle Frere from the same trouvaille, for the Indian Government, do not add any varieties to thesc lists.
