1895.] A. F. R. Hoernle — Copper coins of Ahdagases and Kadphises II. 83 



that they are really the remnants of that combination of letters. If 

 this be so, this coin is one of the ordinary kind. 



The Greek legend on the obverse of both coins is almost wholly 

 obliterated. On the new coin, a trace of MGfACO ( ^.e., /xeyas oor//Ao) 

 is just recognisable near the right foot of the figure of Kadphises, iu 

 its usual place. 



The two Abdagases coins are of very peculiar interest, inasmuch 

 as they present the only instance, hitherto discovered, of Bacfcrian script 

 running from the left to the right. Hitherto, as is well-known, that 

 script has invariably been found running from the right to the left. 



The two coins were found among a lot of Bactrian copper coins, 

 procured by Mr. J. A. Bourdillon, C.S., from the Gaya bazar, in De- 

 cember last. The lot consisted mostly of coins of Soter Megas, Kadphises 

 I. {Kujula-tjpe), and Gondophares, with a few of Abdagases of the usual 

 well-known types, and in the usual, much abraded condition. I picked 

 out the best preserved specimens (purchased for 2 annas each), for Mr. 

 Bourdillon's and my own collection, and the rest were returned to the 

 bazar. On closer examination I discovered, among the Abdagases coins, 

 two specimens which greatly differed in two points from the usual type 

 of his coins. In the first place, 1 noticed, to my great surprise, that a 

 portion of the Bactrian legend runs from the left to the right. In the 

 second place, it appeared that the whole legend was (as usual on most 

 Bactrian coins, copper as well as silver) arranged in two sections. On 

 the ordinary copper coins of Abdagases, as well as of Gondophares, and 

 other late kings, the legend runs continuously all round the margin, 

 and is to be read from the inside of the coin. This, how^ever, is not 

 the usual arrangement on Bactrian coins. As a rule it is not written 

 continuously, but in two sections. The smaller section of the Bactrian 

 legend (on the reverses), giving the name, commences on the lower 

 right of the margin, and runs, along the bottom of the coin, from 

 right to left, to the lower left of the margin ; and must be read from the 

 outside of the coin. The larger section commences on the lower right 

 of the margin, and runs up all round the top of the coiu, down to the 

 lower left ; and must be read from the inside of the coin. Both sections, 

 therefore, commence on the lower right of the margin, and read from 

 the right to the left, in diverging lines. The same arrangement holds 

 good for the Greek legends (on the obverses) ; only in this case, as 

 Greek is read from the left to the right, the starting point of the two 

 sections is the lower left of the margin. ]S"ow on our new Abdagases 

 coins, there is a curious mixture of the Greek and Bactrian arrange- 

 ments. The legend is written in two sections ; the smaller section, 

 giving the name, Abdagai^asa, begins on the lower right, and runs across 



