The Indo-Scythian coins and Turanian coins are related. They share a common alphabet, called Karosthi or Kharosthi Script in India and Turanian alphabet in Turan/Sogdiana.

The Turanian coin legends of the 2-nd c. BC - 8-th c. AD period are studied in the work of Azgar Mukhamadiev Turanian Writing. The detailed study has images, tracings, transliterations and translations, but it is not intended to give a substantial historical background with the dynastic lineages and the dynamic development of the events.

The http://indoeuro.bizland.com/project/script/kharo.html gives a brief description of the Karosthi alphabet. Believed to be initiated from the Aramaic script by the Achaemenid Indic satrapies’ scribes (Andrew Glass http://depts.washington.edu/ebmp/downloads/Glass_2000.pdf ), the name is thought to originate from the Chinese unkindly reference to the right-to left script as an “ass-lip”. Karosthi is a syllabary, with consonant basic signs and vowels denoted, with the exception of an “a”, by additional symbols next to the consonant.

The first known inscription in Karosthi was found in Pakistan and dates to 251 BC. Different sources give an earlier initial date. Coins with legends in Karosthi were found from almost all chronological span of the script, including issues of the Indo-Greeks, Indo-Scythians, Indo-Parthians, Kushans, Satrapies, Audumbaras, Kulutas, Kunindas, Rajanyas, Vemakis and Vrsnis. Many of these coins were catalogued and illustrated in Gardner 1886, Hill 1906, Smith 1906, Rapson 1908, Whitehead 1914, and Allan 1936. Sino-Karasthi coins, bearing inscriptions in both Chinese and Karosthi, were found near Khotan. The illustrations, attributions, and dates are in Cribb 1984, 1985.

From the 4-th century BC until the 3-rd century AD, the area underwent a number of divisions and transformations, it was controlled by the Western and Eastern overlords, and experienced a variety of cultural invasions. The use of Karosthi was contemporary with Brahmi alphabet, and both systems were used in the area for several centuries, with Karosthi used in the Hunnic west and northwest of India, and Brahmi more suitably used for the non-Türkic, Indic languages in the southeast of India. Karosthi is written from right to left, and, with the cultural impacts of the dominating powers, the Indic speakers use Brahmi, which reads from the left. Over time, other scripts gradually replaced Karosthi. The Karosthi script disappeared completely by the 6th century AD.

Karosthi is found in the Türkic settlement area: present Afghanistan, Central Asia, northeast China, Bactria, Pakistan, and the Scythian area in India.

For the Indo-Scythian coins, the images, tracings, transliterations, and translations will also be available at sometime. The combined alphabet table gives a cross-reference for the Karosthi and Turanian letter graphemes. A common thread is clearly visible, in spite of the different orientation of the letters given in the sources. The strong similarity in the graphemes of the two alphabets reflects a common source in their development, and leaves a room to ponder about the causes of the differences. In both cases, the initial issues of the coins are bilingual and follow the Greco-Bactrian models. The nomadic dignity is relayed by the mage of an armed rider, shown on the early antique Khoresmian coin of the2-1-st cc. BC Turanian period, during the time of the powerful Hunnish state.

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Antique Khoresmian coin with an inscription "Turan Yabgu"

In the following commercial for the ancient Indo-Scythian silver coins, in line with the best guesses of the experts, the nomadic rider becomes a proverbial Zeus: quote-unquote “…ancient silver coins of the Indo-Scythians (i.e. the Asiatic horde noted for its battles with the ancient Greeks). Dating back to 35 B.C., they're the first known example of bilingual coinage (Greek and Scythian dialects). Obverse depicts Scythian King, Azes II surrounded by an ancient legend, in Greek. Reverse features Zeus (sic!) surrounded by Karosthi legend…”
( http://secure.sovietski.com/cgi-bin/Sovietski.storefront/EN/Product/206383?AID=5521877&PID=889402)

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 In most cases I have a record where the page came from. It is possible that the source site moved or does not exist any more. All pages are accessible from their original source, and no credit is clamed here. Commercial use of these materials may not be made without written permission. The major source is the http://www.grifterrec.com/coins/indoscythian/indoscythian.html. The coins are mirrored here because they provide a factual information on the common historical background and cultural affinity, essential for the understanding of the ongoing speculations on the linguistic affiliations.

Karosthi (Kharoshthi) alphabet: http://www.omniglot.com/writing/kharosthi.htm.

Transliteration and translation of legends: I would love to see it. Please let me know if you have it.

Scythian Kingdom in Arachosia
Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Obverse: Horse walking right with her head turned back.	Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Reverse: Winged Nike walking right; control mark for Kandahar.
Early anepigraphic coinage (circa 110 - 100 BC) AR Hemidrachm (?) Mitchiner ACW 2144 Kandahar mint 14 x 10 mm. 0.46 gm. Die position=12h
Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Obverse: King holding spear, mounted on horse walking right.  Greek legend.	Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Reverse: Zeus standing holding long sceptre and thunderbolt.  Karosthi legend.
Vonones (circa 100 - 65 BC) AR Drachm circa 90 - 65 BC (with Spalagadames as viceroy) Mitchiner ACW 2161 Kandahar mint 17 mm. 2.39 gm. Die position=12h reverse
Scythian Kingdom in Pakistan Azes I and Azes II might be the same king.
Azes I
Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Obverse: Zeus standing left holding long sceptre. Greek legend.	Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Reverse: Winged Nike standing right with wreath and palm. Karosthi legend.
Azes I (57 - 35 BC) AR Drachm Mitchiner ACW 2207v. Bannu mint 18 mm. 2.22 gm. Die position=11h
Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Obverse: King holding spear, mounted on horse walking right. Greek legend.	Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Reverse: City Goddess standing left holding palm and lamp. Control marks in field. Karosthi legend.
Azes I (57 - 35 BC) AR Drachm Mitchiner ACW 2216v. Taxila mint 17 mm. 2.33 gm. Die position=11h
Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Obverse: King holding spear, mounted on horse walking right. Greek legend.	Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Reverse: Humped bull, right. Control mark in field. Karosthi legend.
Azes I (57 - 35 BC) AE Deca-chalkon Mitchiner ACW 2236 Hazara mint 28 x 29 mm. 19.70 gm. Die position=1h
Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Obverse: King holding spear, mounted on horse walking right. Greek legend.	Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Reverse: Humped bull, right. Control mark in field. Karosthi legend.
Azes I (57 - 35 BC) AE Penta-chalkon Mitchiner ACW 2239v. Taxila mint 22 x 22 mm. 11.15 gm. Die position=12h
Azilises
Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Obverse: King holding spear, mounted on horse walking right. Greek legend.	Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Reverse: City Goddess standing left holding palm and lamp. Control marks in field. Karosthi legend.
Azilises I (57 - 35 BC) AR Drachm Mitchiner ACW 2216v. Taxila mint 18 mm. 1.97 gm. Die position=2h
Azes II
Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Obverse: City Goddess enthroned left. Greek legend.	Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Reverse: Hermes standing, holding caduceus. Karosthi legend.
Azes II (35 BC - 5 AD) AE Penta-chalkon circa 30 - 20 BC Mitchiner ACW 2320 27 mm. 10.35 gm. Die position=12h
Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Obverse: Humped bull standing right. Monogram above and in front of bull. Greek legend.	Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Reverse: Lion standing right; monogram above. Karosthi legend.
Azes II (35 BC - 5 AD) AE Hexa-chalkon circa 20 - 1 BC Mitchiner ACW 2383 31 mm. 13.63 gm. Die position=12h
Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Obverse: Humped bull standing right. Monogram above and in front of bull. Greek legend.	Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Reverse: Lion standing right; monogram above. Karosthi legend.
Azes II (35 BC - 5 AD) AE Hexa-chalkon circa 20 - 1 BC Mitchiner ACW 2386 - 2388 28 mm. 12.12 gm. Die position=12h Slightly magnetic!
Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Obverse: King holding whip; mounted on horse walking right. Corrupt Greek legend.	Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Reverse: Zeus standing left, holding winged Nike and long spear. Karosthi legend
Azes II (35 BC - 5 AD) AR Tetradrachm circa 20 - 1 BC (Definitive coinage/Southwestern provinces) Mitchiner ACW 2427v.| Taxila Sirkap mint 22 mm. 8.33 gm. Die position=2h
Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Obverse: King holding whip; mounted on horse walking right. Monogram to right and under horse. Corrupt Greek legend.	Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Reverse: Zeus standing left. Karosthi legend.
Azes II (35 BC - 5 AD) AE Drachm (?) circa 20 - 1 BC (Definitive coinage/Southwestern provinces) Mitchiner ACW 2432v. Taxila Sirkap mint 12 mm. 1.96 gm. Die position=6h
Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Obverse: King seated cross-legged, facing. Greek legend.	Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Reverse: Hermes standing left, holding caduceus. Karosthi legend.
Azes II (35 BC - 5 AD) AE Tri-chalkon circa 20 - 1 BC (Definitive coinage/Southwestern provinces) Mitchiner ACW 2444 Taxila Sirkap mint 19 mm. 5.86 gm. Die position=6h
Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Obverse: King holding whip; mounted on horse walking right. Monogram to right and under horse. Corrupt Greek legend.	Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Reverse: Pallas standing right with shield and long spear. Karosthi legend.
Azes II (35 BC - 5 AD) AR Tetradrachm circa 1 - 30 AD (Late coinage/Northeastern provinces) Mitchiner ACW 2449v. Taxila Sirsukh mint 24 mm. 9.75 gm. Die position=3h
Age of the Satraps
Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Obverse: Humped bull walking right. Monogram to left and under bull. Corrupt Greek legend.	Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Reverse: Lion walking right; monograms to left and right. Karosthi legend.
Zeionises, son of Manigula (circa 23 AD) AE Penta-chalkon Mitchiner ACW 2469v. South Chach mint 24 x 28 mm. 11.44 gm. Die position=6h Magnetic.
Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Obverse: King holding whip; mounted on horse walking right. Monogram to right and under horse. Greek legend.	Click to enlarge CLICK TO REDUCE Reverse: Pallas standing right with shield and spear. Karosthi legend.
Aspavarma (5 - 35 AD) AE Tetradrachm Mitchiner ACW 2493v. Taxila Sirsukh mint 20 mm. 10.01 gm. Die position=9h
b a c k t o a n c i e n t c o i n s
if i've made a mistake or if you have a comment you can drop me a line at tkmallon-mccorgray@grifterrec.com