Kipunada

Kipunada
Kushan Ruler
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]
Reign	335-350 CE[2]
Coronation	335 CE
Predecessor	Shaka I
Successor	Kidarites
Born	297 CE
Burial	350 CE

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]

Preceded by Shaka I

Kushan Ruler c. 335-350 CE[2]

Succeeded by Gupta Empire/ Kidarites (Kirada)

Notes

1. CNG Coins
2. Cribb, Joe; Donovan, Peter (2014). Kushan, Kushano-Sasanian, and Kidarite Coins A Catalogue of Coins From the American Numismatic Society by David Jongeward and Joe Cribb with Peter Donovan. p. 4.
3. Heritage World Coin Auctions Long Beach Signature Auction Catalog #378. Ivy Press. May 2005. p. 15. ISBN 978-1-932899-79-5.
4. Rezakhani, Khodadad (2017). From the Kushans to the Western Turks. p. 203.
5. Cribb, Joe. "The Kidarites, the numismatic evidence.pdf". Coins, Art and Chronology II, Edited by M. Alram et Al.: 101.
6. "In the Punjab the stylistic progression of the gold series from Kushan to Kidarite is clear: imitation staters were issued first in the name of Samudragupta, then by Kirada, 'Peroz' and finally Kidara" in Errington, Elizabeth; Curtis, Vesta Sarkhosh (2007). From Persepolis to the Punjab: Exploring Ancient Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. British Museum Press. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-7141-1165-0.
7. Rezakhani, Khodadad (2017). ReOrienting the Sasanians: East Iran in Late Antiquity. Edinburgh University Press. p. 85. ISBN 978-1-4744-0030-5.

External links

• Coins of late Kushan emperors