The Three Wise Men Biblical Coin:

In Christian tradition the Magi--also known as the Three Wise Men, the Three Kings, or the Kings from the East--are Zoroastrian astrologers who came from the East to worship the infant Jesus. They are described in the Gospel of Matthew as believing that he was "born King of the Jews". According to Matthew, they followed a new star to Jerusalem. Hearing that they had arrived, Herod tried to trick them into revealing where Jesus was, but the Magi, after visiting with Jesus, left Jerusalem secretly. According to Matthew, the Magi gave Jesus a number of gifts.

These coins, minted during the dynasty of Azes II, Satrap of the Kingdom of Sakastan from 35 B.C. to 5 A.D., are a rare witness to the birth of Christianity. Historians believe Azes II sent his representative to the Holy Land seeking proof of the birth of the Christ Child. The man he sent was called Gaspar or Caspar. Gaspar became one of the Magi who gazed upon the baby Jesus and offered gifts to the King of Kings. Gaspar’s journey was financed by these silver coins. He is certain to have carried them to the Holy Land and used them to purchase the gifts of frankincense and myrrh. Gaspar is one of the three Magi whose story is told in Matthew 2:1-12. Although early references tend to attribute this series of coins to two rulers, Azes I and Azes II, it is now generally accepted that there was only one Azes, who succeeded the Indo-Parthian ruler Gondophares. Some debased issues in the name of Azes with blundered legends are posthumous issues of various successor states.

Azes II was King of Bactria, which includes present day Afghanistan. He reigned for nearly 40 years from 35 B.C. to 5 A.D. He was so revered that he was referred to as the "Great King." Bactrian coinage still included his image and name 25 years after his death. Azes was a descendant of Alexander the Great. The reverse type on his coins, bearing an image of him mounted on a large horse, alludes to his reputation as an explorer, traveler, and warrior. Some of his coinage also depicts him in armor. The coin displays an Indian script on the reverse, making them one of the earliest bilingual coinages. Most of his coinage was minted prior to the birth of Jesus, but some was minted during the year of Christ’s birth. All of this coinage was in circulation during the period of Christ's life.

 

About the featured coin:

Indo-Scythians, Azes,  AR Tetradrachm - Indo-Scythians, Azes Denomination: AR Tetradrachm Date: Circa  35 B.C. to 5 A.D.
Mint: Undetermined mint in Gandhara, west of Taxila. 24.5mm and 9.50 grams.
Obv: King with coat of mail, on horse, holding a sceptre, with Greek royal headband. Greek legend BASILEWS BASILEWN MEGALOU AZOU "The Great King of Kings Azes".
Rev: Athena with shield and lance, making a hand gesture identical to the Buddhist vitarka mudra. Kharoshti legend MAHARAJASA RAJADIRAJASA MAHATASA AYASA "The Great King of Kings Azes"

The coinage of Azes II depicts a Greek goddess as his protector, following the usual numismatic model of the Greek kings in the Indo-Greek Empire. This was meant to symbolize a willingness to accommodate Greek culture. The innovation of the Indo-Scythian coinage is to show the king on a horse rather than in a bust portrait.

The Indo-Scythians are a branch of the Indo-Iranian Sakas (Scythians), who migrated from southern Siberia into Bactria, Sogdiana, Arachosia, Gandhara, Kashmir, Punjab, and into parts of Western and Central India, Gujarat and Rajasthan, from the middle of the 2nd century BCE to the 1st century BCE. The first Saka King in India was Maues or Moga who established Saka power in Gandhara and gradually extended supremacy over north-western India.The invasion of India by Scythian tribes from Central Asia, often referred to as the Indo-Scythian invasion, played a significant part in the history of India as well as nearby countries. In fact, the Indo-Scythian war is just one chapter in the events triggered by the nomadic flight of Central Asians from conflict with Chinese tribes which had lasting effects on Bactria, Kabol, Parthia and India as well as far off as Rome in the west.
But these important historical events are viewed through a fog of misconceptions that scholars are only beginning to clear up. One of these relates to the true identity of the Scythian peoples who participated in the invasion. Many historians now believe that the Scythian group that invaded India and set up various kingdoms, included not only the Sakas but other allied tribes, such as the Parama Kambojas, Bahlikas, Rishikas and Paradas.