Kushan Coins and History: A Type Catalogue of Kushan, Kushano-Sasanian and Kidarite Hun Coins Based on the Collection of the British Museum

by Joe Cribb, Robert Bracey

The coinage of the Kushan kings (1st to 4th centuries) and of their immediate successors the Sasanian Kushanshahs (3rd−4th centuries) and the Kidarite Hun Kushanshahs (4th−5th centuries) are a key component of our understanding of the history of ancient Afghanistan, Pakistan, northern India, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan during the early centuries AD. Modern knowledge of each of these kingdoms began with the discovery of their coins. Research continues to reveal new aspects of the political structure of these states, their geographical extent, the religious affinities of their rulers and the development of scripts and languages in the region.
This landmark publication will give a comprehensive account of Kushan, Kushano-Sasanian and Kidarite Hun coinages, as well as put them into a wider historical and cultural context.

882 pages, Paperback

Published November 15, 2025

About the author

Joe Cribb specializes in the history of coinage in Asia, with particular focus on the pre-Islamic coinages of the territories now represented by India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Kashmir, and Afghanistan. His interests also cover the history and practice of numismatics. He was President of the Royal Numismatic Society (2005–9) and is a council member of the Oriental Numismatic Society. He is currently working on a catalogue of the coins of the Kushan kings of ancient South and Central Asia (first to fourth centuries AD).

Joe Cribb is a trustee of Ditchling Museum, Sussex, and coordinator of the Eric Gill Society.