Kushanas, Kanishka I, Copper, 3.7 g, Urdhva Linga Shiva type, the king standing to left with offereing in the Fire Altar near his right leg and legend around on obv. Lord Shiva standing with a single head and holding a trident in his right hand, his left hand is hanging by the waist and Greeko legend in the right field reading OSHO. Almost Extremely Rare, Extremely Rare.The most outstanding part of the coin is the rev with the Lord Shiva standing and having an Urdhva Linga (erect phallus called Ithyphallic Shiva), the pose is quite distinct with his out of proportion Linga shown in a more realistic pose than the unrealistic pose of the same on his gold coins. The out of proportion of the Linga is purposely made to show the characteristic feature of Lord Shiva on such a small coin which could have easily been missed by its holder. It seems that this pose of Shiva is the earliest form which was developed later into a more subtle form of Shiva Linga.
It is for the first time that such a copper coin of this type has appeared in any auction. A similar coin is recorded by Joe Cribb in the British Museum, London. An unusual coin with a very high implications on the religious history of India.
