The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c31.76

v1.c31.76

Most of the coins which Gondopharnes struck either alone (Pl. VII, 32) or together with his nephew, Abdagases (VII, 34), and all of those which he struck in association with his commanders-in-chief, Aspavarman and Sasas (*Summary*, p. 590, and Pl. VII, 33), bear the symbol ☿ which is so characteristic of his rule that it is usually called by his name; and, as this symbol is found countermarked on coins of the Parthian kings Orodes I (57–38 b.c.) and Artabanus III (10–40 a.d.), it is not improbable that Gondopharnes may have conquered some of the Parthian dominions³. There can be little doubt that under his sway the Pahlava power attained its height; and it appears probable that this power was now controlled by a single suzerain who reigned supreme over both eastern Irān and N.W. India; for the coins of Gondopharnes bear the types both of Orthagnes (Pl. VIII, 52) and of Azes II (Pl. VIII, 47), and seem to show therefore that he had succeeded to the dominions of both of these suzerains.