2018-06-06 Wed

“Civilisations aren't remembered by their business people, Bankers or lawyers. They're remembered by their art.” – Eli Broad.

And what’s the best place to observe these arts than at the museums! Museums are repositories of the artistic, cultural, tangible and intangible heritage of a country. India being a country of much-celebrated history and past, has innumerable artefacts of beauty and importance. To explore and honour this diversity of artefacts, India Post has issued four commemorative stamps. These stamps depict the treasured art objects exhibited in the museums from across the country.

Kushan Gold Coin: This Re.1 stamp has a Gold Dinar of Kanishka I dating to 1st CE depicted on it. Kanishka I was one of the greatest rulers of Kushana dynasty (127 CE–150 CE). Kanishka I being famous for his military, political, and spiritual achievements has been vital for constructing the dynastic history. His coins, mostly issued in gold and silver, are one of the best specimens you can ever see!

This coin from the National Museum, New Delhi depicts on its obverse Kanishka I standing facing left offering oblation in a fire altar, holding goad in one hand and spear in another. The Bactrian inscription "?????????? ??????? ??????" meaning king of kings, Kanishka Kushan is seen around the king. The reverse bears the deity Oesho (Shiva) standing with four arms, holding an elephant goad and a water pot in lower right hand, and thunderbolt in upper right hand, trident in upper left hand and an animal by its horns probably a goat in lower left hand. Bactrian inscription to right "Oesho".

Since its establishment in 1949, the National Museum has a lot of artefacts and presently holds approximately 2,00,000 objects of a diverse nature, both Indian and foreign, covering a time span of more than five thousand years of Indian cultural heritage!

To read about the other stamps in this series click here.

Image Courtesy: Mintage World