876 Lieut. Cunningham on Bactrian coins. [No. 105. 



specimens of the same king, while the name in Bactrian Pali on 

 the reverse remains constant and unchanged ; hence, as a man who 

 carries a string through the mazes of a labyrinth, is, on his returning 

 ignorant of the way, guided by that which he had before conducted, or 

 as a father who directs his child in youth, is in his declining old age 

 guided by that child ; so do we find that the Greek names which had 

 been our guide during the infancy of our study of the Bactrian Pali, 

 are now in their turn, consequent on the decline and corruption of the 

 Grecian language, elucidated by our more matured knowledge of the 

 language of Bactria. It will be of advantage to bear this in mind, for 

 the amount of corruption and barbarism to be found in each name 

 expressed in Greek characters, will be of singular value in determining 

 the relative route of these later princes, whose names truly and cor- 

 rectly expressed in the native character, will enable us not only to 

 correct the bad Greek version of the coins, but perhaps also to assist 

 in identifying them with princes of the same names, mentioned by native 

 authors. 



No. 6. A round copper coin of small size, of good workmanship, 

 and in defective preservation. 



Obverse. The Sinha, or maneless Indian lion, walking to the right, 

 differing from the usual representation of this animal on the coins of 

 Azas, in having one of the fore legs raised. In the field a Bactrian 

 monogram. Legend disposed circularly, BASIAEQ2 BA2IAEQN 

 MErAAOY AZOY; "(coin) of the great king of kings, Azas." 



Reverse. A female figure standing half turned to the left, holding in 

 her left hand an object, which may be the horn of Plenty, and extend- 

 ing in the right hand an undecided object, which from a comparison with 

 other coins is, I suspect, a small figure of Victory, holding out a chaplet. 

 In the field to the right is a Bactrian monogram forming tiy and on 

 the other side an indistinct object. Legend disposed circularly, Ta9 

 "P^lu Til'^iJLI Til'nTu, Maharajasa rajatirajasa mahatasa Ayasa ; 

 " (coin) of the great king, the king of kings, the mighty Aja." Two 

 very imperfect specimens of this type were published by Mr. Prinsep in 

 the 2nd vol. of his Journal, (figs. 1 1 and 12, plate vii.) but he was 

 unable to recognize them at that early period of our knowledge. 



No. 7. A square copper coin of middle size of good execution, 

 and in excellent preservation. 



