Coin of Kipunada. Circa 335-350 CE. Obverse: Kipunada standing left, sacrificing over altar. To the right, name vertically in
Brahmi script in
monogrammic form: Ki-pu-ṇa. Under the ruler's arm: Bacharnatha. Reverse:Ardoxsho enthroned facing, holding investiture garland and
cornucopia.[1]
Kipunada (
Brahmi script: Ki-pu-ṇa-dha), also Kipanadha, was probably the last ruler of the
Kushan Empire around 335-350 CE.[2] He is known for his gold coinage.[3] He succeeded
Shaka I. Kipunada was probably only a local ruler in the area of
Taxila, in western
Punjab, and he may have been a subject of
Gupta Emperor
Samudragupta.[4]
Gupta and Kidarite successors
The coins of Kipunada in Central and Western Punjab were followed by peculiar coins minted locally in Punjab, with the name "Samudra" on them (
Gupta script:), presumably connected to the
Gupta Empire ruler
Samudragupta.[5][6] Soon after this, coinage was issued in Punjab by
Kidarite Hun rulers known as
Kirada,
Peroz and then the famous
Kidara, who occupied the territory formerly held by the Kushans.[5][6][7]
Local coin minted in the
Punjab area with the name "Samudra" (Sa-mu-dra, under the king's left arm), presumably
Samudragupta, immediately followed those of Kipunada.[6][5]
The next coins were those of
Kidarite Hun kings, starting with
Kirada (Ki-ra-da under the king's left arm), who ruled circa 350 CE.[6][5]
^Richard Salomon (Jul–Sep 1996). "An Inscribed Silver Buddhist Reliquary of the Time of King Kharaosta and Prince Indravarman". Journal of the American Oriental Society. 116 (3): 418–452 [442].
JSTOR605147.
^Richard Salomon (1995) [Published online: 9 Aug 2010]. "A Kharosthī Reliquary Inscription of the Time of the Apraca Prince Visnuvarma". South Asian Studies. 11 (1): 27–32.
doi:
10.1080/02666030.1995.9628492.