★ The Golden Hermitage, a Buddhist monastery in Taxila ★

INDIA, Post-Mauryan (Punjab). Taxila (local coinage). AE (Bronze, 16 mm, 3.57 g, 12 h), Taxila city state (Pushkalavati), circa 185-168 BC. Six-arched hill surmounted by the sun. Rev. 'HIRANYASAME' (in Kharoshti) Lotus standard. HGC 12, 825. MACW 4428. MIG 155. Very rare. The obverse struck slightly off center, otherwise, very fine.

From a collection of coins from Central Asia.

This local issue mentions the 'HIRANYASAME' (Golden Hermitage), which was probably a Buddhist monastery in the city of Taxila.