汉佉二体钱新论

RE-EXAMINATION OF THE SINO-KHAROSTHI COINS

目次一出土情况二年代与性质三发行前奏和余波四发行历史背景汉佉二体钱是研究汉朝、贵霜和塔里木盆地关系史的重要材料。一个多世纪以来虽有很多研究,但关于其年代、功能等问题仍难形成统一意见。姚朔民曾对1987年之前的研究情况作了概述[1];近年学者又提出不少有益见解[2]。

The Sino-Kharosthi coins are a unique series of coins issued by the Kingdom of Khotan,which could be seen as symbols of interaction between cultures.With only a few exceptions these coins have all been found in and around Hotan,and the total number of officially reported coins is 539.These coins are round without holes and struck in bronze.Hence,they belong to the Greek coinage system.There are two sizes of the coins,bigger and smaller.The obverse of the coins bears Chinese characters,and the reverse bears Kharosthi script.Such design implies the political background that the Khotan kingdom submitted itself to the rule of the Han dynasty,but not to the Kushan Empire.