There is only one post referencing “Tigranes " in the title and discussing coins of Tigranes, from @Alex22, June 2019, Die links and duplicates for Tigranes II coins- two of the other three posts are sharing fake coins and one is about a coin of Artavasdes II, son of Tigranes. It seems Tigranes deserves more air time. A coin of Tigranes II was featured on an Armenian 500 dram banknote from 1993-2005. A tetradrachm of Tigranes has been on my wishlist for several years - Tigranes the Great, played important roles in the affairs in Cappadocia that brought Sulla to Cappadocia and the first meeting between Roma and Parthia. Coins from 1st century BC have been my primary collecting focus, with recent additions being less and less from the Roman republic. First a coin of Ariobarzanes I of Cappadocia whom Tigranes chased from Cappadocia. He was also a key player in the Mithridatic Wars, allied with Mithridates VI of Pontus. Cappadocia, Ariobarzanes I, 96-63 BC, AR Drachm Obv: Diademed head right Rev: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΦIΛOPΩMAIOY APIOBAPZANOY Athena Nikephoros standing left, holding Nike in right hand, supporting shield and spear with left; monogram left, KE (date RY 25 == 71/0 BC) below Ref: Simonetta 36a var. (orientation of monogram) Note: It is worth noting how Ariobarzanes is described on the coin: ΦIΛOPΩMAIOY, Philoromaios, Friend of Rome. After Rome recognized Ariobarzanes I as King of Cappadocia in 97 or 96 BC Mithridates VI of Pontus sought support from Tigranes, King of Armenia, to advance his interests in Cappadocia. He gave Tigranes his daughter Cleopatra in marriage. Tigranes chased Ariobarzanes out of Cappadocia and Ariobarzanes fled to Rome. Sulla was sent to restore him to power circa 94 BC. This led to Sulla holding a first meeting with the Parthians which hit a few snags (for more see: Sulla, First Meeting with Parthia. Ultimately Tigranes was defeated in the Mithridatic Wars by Lucullus, Sulla's general in Asia minor, in 68/9 BC. Tigranes was betrayed to Pompey by his son, and surrendered to Pompey. Pompey divides the kingdom with Tigranes keeping Armenia Major and his son Tigranes the Younger taking Sophene. He remains a client king to Rome until his death in 56 BC. Cicero comments in Pro Sestio: "[Pompey] thought it no less glorious for himself and for this empire, that the king should be known to be restored by him, than if he had kept him in bonds. Therefore, Tigranes—who was himself an enemy of the Roman people, and who received our most active enemy in his territories, who struggled against us, who fought pitched battles with us, and who compelled us to combat almost for our very existence and supremacy—is a king to this day, and has obtained by his entreaties the name of a friend and ally, which he had previously forfeited by his hostile and warlike conduct." - Cicero, For Sestius, 27 Finally the coin with die break and a reverse double strike that I found interesting: Kings of Armenia, Tigranes II ‘the Great’, 95-56 BC, Tetradrachm, AR, 28.5mm, 15.66g, 1 h), Tigranocerta (literally meaning built by Tigranes), circa 80-68 Obv: Draped bust of Tigranes II to right, wearing five-pointed tiara decorated with comet star between two eagles Rev: BAΣIΛEΩΣ - TIΓPANOY The Tyche of Tigranocerta seated right on rock, holding long palm frond in her right hand; below, river-god Araxes swimming right; on rock, monogram; in field to right, θ; all within wreath Ref: Kovacs 74.2; Nercessian die study Group 2, A22 More coins, history and references in my notes on "Tigranes the Great". As always comments, coins, corrections, references are all appreciated. Post your coins of Tigranes, or any other coins from the time period of Tigranes II's reign (95-56 BC), coins with Tyche of Antioch wi/ river-god Orontes , or anything else you find interesting or entertaining.
Kings of Armenia Tigranes II “the Great”, 95-56 BC., AE16 Obv: Tigranes, bust, r.; 5-pointed tiara with star b/t 2 eagles, dotted circle border. Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩN / ΤΙΓΡΑΝΟΥ, Cornucopia, TP–A monogram below. Diam: 16x14 mm. Weight: 2.79 gr. Attrib: Nercessian 94. CAA Bedoukian 104.
Sulla, This is a very interesting article . I've bid on a number of choice Tigranes II tets., but always came up short . Despite being plentiful, these coins are popular & well struck examples without problems usually fetch 2K or more at auction. I remember a mint state example selling for 15K at a CNG auction ! The reverse composition on the Tigranes tets. was copied on the Augustus series from the Antioch mint. Pictured below is an example I sold at a Heritage auction 10 years ago. SYRIA, Antioch. Augustus, 27 BC-14 AD. AR Tetradrachm: 15.22 gm, 27 mm. Reverse: Tyche of Antioch holding a palm frond, her foot on the shoulder of the river god Orontes swimming upstream.
Whether it is the small AE version or large silver - this image of Tyche with Orontes is a favorite: as usual Al - you share amazing coins!
Here are two tetradrachms of Tigranes II, the second one actually an imitation. First, the Real McCoy. Kings of Armenia, 95-55 BC Tigranes II, the Great AR Tetradrachm, 15.8g, minted at Antioch. Obverse: Bust of Tigranes right wearing an Armenian tiara with five pyramidal points and adorned with a comet star between two eagles. Reverse: Antiochene Tyche seated right on rocks, holding a palm frond; river-god Orontes swimming right, below; TP monogram before; all within a laurel wreath. Nercessian (SCADA) Group 5 (A48/P13); Bedoukian (CAA) 40. Good VF. After decades of fratricidal strife between various members of the Seleukid dynasty, the Syrians rose up against their rulers and invited Tigranes II, the Great, of Armenia to restore order in their kingdom (83 BC). His rule extended over the following fourteen years until he was eventually driven out of Syria by the Roman general Lucullus. And the imitation, from Roma Numismatics, which actually shares many features with the first coin. Kings of Armenia, 95-55 BC Tigranes II 'the Great' Imitative AR Tetradrachm Samosata(?), after circa 69-66 BC. Draped bust to right, wearing Armenian tiara with five peaks and emblazoned with star between two eagles; bead and reel border around / [BA]ΣIΛEOΣ TIΓPANOY, Tyche of Antioch seated to right on rock pile, holding palm frond, river god Orontes swimming to right below; TP monogram to inner right; all within laurel wreath. ACV 35; CAA 24-25; Kovacs 123 (same obv. die). 15.31g, 27mm, 12h. Near Very Fine. Lot 390, Roma E-Sale 77, lot 390.
