devices in the later coins of the series; since it is well known, that Buddhism prevailed through these countries also, and a constant intercommunication must have been consequently kept up. How far the antiquity of the first Buddhist groups of coins may have approached the epoch of BUDDHA (544 B. C.) it is difficult to determine, but the acquisition of their similitude to the Indo-Scythic coins must have been posterior to the breaking up of the genuine Bactrian dynasty, perhaps about the commencement of the Christian era.

Plate LI. Indo-Scythic Coins resumed.

Having disposed to the best of our knowledge of the earliest Hindu coins, we must now return to the Indo-Scythic series, for the purpose of conducting the reader through the promised line of connection into the second great field of Hindu imitation.

Enough has been said on former occasions of the two principal families of this type, the KADPHISES and the KANERKOS groupes; but with a view of systematizing a little the information already obtained ; and, at the same time, of introducing a few new and very beautiful coins lately added to our list, I have collected in the present plate the principal varieties of the KANERKOS mithriacs, subsequent to the adoption of the vernacular titles rao and rao nano rao.

With the most common obverse of the Indo-Scythic family, a raja clad in the Tartar coat and inscribed PAO KANHPKI, fig. 3, I have traced on the copper coins, as well as in the gold ones, the following series of reverses, NANA (for nanaia), NANAO, MAO, MIOPO, MITPO, MIOPO, MIPO, A@PO, OKPO, and a word not very clearly made out on fig.8, OAAO. Of these, the explanations have been already attempted*; mithro, mitro, miro† are but varieties of mithra, the sun, whose effigy on the genuine Greek coins of KANERKOS is plainly entitled HAIOZ. Okro I have conjectured to be intended for arka, the Sanscrit name of the sun; and his four-armed effigy in fig. 7, more beautifully developed on the gold coin fig. 1, an unique obtained by KERAMAT ALI at Cábul, confirms this opinion. Athro has been before stated to be the Zend word for the igneous essence of the sun, and accordingly, we find flame depicted on the shoulders of the figures bearing this epithet, in fig. 6, and in fig. 2, a very pretty little gold coin, for which I am also indebted to KERAMAT ALI. Nanaia, remaining feminine in NANA of fig. 4, has been shewn to be the Persian Diana, or the moon :— -and in strict accordance with the Brahmanical mythology, this deity is made masculine in NANAO and MAO, the más or lunus of the Hindus,

* See vol. iii. p. 452, et seq.

+ Lieut. CUNNINGHAM has added this variety from a fine gold coin.

and on his effigy in figure 9, (as in former drawings in vol. iii.,) the horns of the moon are seen to project from behind his shoulders.

The same devices in every respect are continued upon several succeeding coins of the Rao nano rao series. The chief varieties of the obverse of these are given in figs. 2, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. The order in which they should be placed is necessarily doubtful; but judging from the comparative perfection of the Grecian letters, the "couch-lounger," fig. 9, and the "elephant-rider," fig. 10, should have precedence over the rest.

Fig. 9, from the VENTURA collection, is a very perfect specimen of the couch-lounger. He has a glory extending around his body, as well as his head, and his titles, rao nano rao and korano, are distinct; but the name is unfortunately missing, no more than OO being visible.

In fig. 10, we are not more fortunate, but from the succession of o's, we may guess the word to be OOHмO or OOHPKI, names already known on the gold coins. Some of the Manikyála elephant coins had the name KEN PANO. This family is extremely numerous, and is procurable among the old pice of every bazar in Upper India.

The names on the last series, figs. 11 to 14, are illegible; but the letters are still Greek. The three first specimens are selected from a number in Col. STACY'S cabinet, to exhibit the varieties of the sitting posture, and its gradual transition to the squat position of the Hindus. Col. ToD has supposed the figure in a coin similar to fig. 11, to be Parthian; but what he there took for a bow was evidently the ornamental contour of the back of the prince's throne or sinhásan. Fig. 14, is from a coin in Col. SMITH's possession.

In fig. 15, of this plate, drawn from a plaister cast of a bronze, embossed, chaprus or badge in the VENTURA Collection, we may conceive the full device of the elephant obverse to be developed. The faulty proportion of the rider still prevails:-the flowing fillets to the headdress; the ankush to guide the animal; the glory around the face, are visible in both; but the name is wanting.

Of figs. 16 and 17, the former from Col. STACY's, the latter from Col. SMITH'S, cabinet, I have already noticed a less perfect specimen while descanting on the earliest Hindu coins. The general style of the figures on both faces so strongly resembles that of the KANERKOS coins, that I feel disposed to look upon them as imitations. The legend has a fourth letter very distinct, besides some less distinct on the left hand, wo EW yodhíyala.. tajaya.

Plate XXXVIII. Indo-Scythic and Hindu Link-Coins.

It is worthy of remark, that none of the KANERKOS coins have a Pehleví legend; although the collateral series of KADPHISES, which