Kushan Dynasty, Kanishka I (127-140 CE), Gold Dinar, "Athsho"(God of Metal and Fire) type, Mint Balkh?, Obv: the diademed king standing facing the left, holding a spear and ankush, sacrificing over an altar on the left field, with flames on his right shoulder, the Bactrian legend "ÞAONANOÞAO KA-NHÞKI KOÞANO" "Shaonashao Kanishki Koshano" (King of Kings Kanishka the Kushan) around the field, Rev: Athsho, robed, standing facing left, holding diadem in extended right hand, his left hand resting akimbo and holding a sword hilt, a tamgha on the left field, the Bactrian legend “αΘÞO” (Athsho) on the right field, a dotted border around the field, 7.18g, 18.77mm, (Gobl # 33), almost complete details on both the sides with dotted border, about extremely fine, Extremely Rare.

Note: The god Athsho, or Athosho, appears to derive from the Zoroastrian deity 'Atar', the son of Ahura Mazda. Athsho is the personification of holy fire, indicated by the flames about his head and shoulders. Associated with Aša-Vahišta, the personification of truth or righteousness, who appears as Ashaeixsho on Huvishka coins, the figure of Atar has been employed historically for royal fires. Though Athsho was recognized in Iran as a deity that accepted or rejected souls in heaven, he was most closely linked with Hephaistos in Western Mithraism. A blacksmith's hammer and tongs, symbols of Hephaistos, were also used for lighting the holy fire. As a result, they are also associated with Athsho. Likewise, Pahlavi's commentary on the Atašnyayiš (Sacred Books of the East XXIII:360, note 6) notes the further connection between these two gods in that, like Hephaistos, Athsho "bodily is infirm; spiritually he is a warrior."

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