This article by Steve Benner for CoinWeek introduced me to the Kingdom of Sophene. I am embarrassed to say that I had never heard of it until just now. But that's the greatest thing about ancient numismatics -- every day is an opportunity to learn. Do you have any coins from this forgotten kingdom? From the article: The Kingdom of Sophene is another one of those ancient countries that has not received very much attention from ancient coin collectors. Usually, it is just lumped in with Armenia because it was absorbed into the Armenian Empire by Tigranes II the Great (140–55 BCE) after 95 BCE. But Sophene had its own unique history and distinctive coinage. KINGS of SOPHENE. Arsames II. Circa 230 BCE. Æ Dichalkon. Diademed and draped bust right, wearing tiara / Nude Hercules standing left, holding club, BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΡΣAMOY, 20mm, 5.44 g., Nercessian, Coinage 12. (CNG 367, Lot 24, $280, 1/27/16).
This was one of the themes I had when I was adding Armenian coins to my collection. I don't have many aside from the following three... Armenian Kingdom of Sophene: Arsames II (ca. 230BC) One Chalcus (Nercessian Sophene-19b) This is a fairly recently published coin. It is similar to Nercessian-9, but the bust is facing left as opposed to right. It is mentioned in the following publication (it is in Armenian, but you can see the plates): Nercessian, Y. T. “Coinage of the Armenian Kingdom of Sophene (ca. 260-70 B.C.)” in Armenian Numismatic Journal 37.3 (September 2011). Obv: Head of Arsames facing left wearing tiara with flat top like a cap; a diadem encircles the head, ends in a bow, and hangs down neck. Border of dots Rev: Caps of Dioscuri. Legend to the right, downward ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ; to left downward ΑΡΣΑΜΟΥ
Armenian Kingdom of Sophene: Arsames II (ca. 230BC) Two Chalci (Nercessian-7; Nercessian Sophene-11ա) Obv: Head of Arsames facing right wearing tiara with flat top like a cap; a diadem encircles the head, ends in bow, and hangs down from the neck. Border of dots Rev: Nude figure standing and facing , right arm extending from elbow and left arm holding long club. Legend to the right, downward ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ; to left downward ΑΡΣΑΜΟΥ
Armenian Kingdom of Sophene: Arsames II (ca. 230BC) One Chalcus (Nercessian-8 ; Nercessian Sophene-7) Obv: Head of Arsames facing right wearing tiara with flat top like a cap; a diadem encircles the head, ends in bow, and hangs down from the neck. Border of dots Rev: Eagle standing right holding thunderbolt. Legend to the right, downward ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ; to left downward ΑΡΣΑΜΟΥ
Ah, the mysterious kingdom of Sophene. I hadn’t heard of it either, until a couple of months ago. This is my only Sophene coin: KINGS OF SOPHENE. Mithradates I, circa 2nd half of 2nd century BC.Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 18 mm, 6.86 g, 12 h), Arkathiokerta (?). Draped bust of Mithradates I to left, bearded and wearing bashlyk tied with a diadem; before, countermark: ('p' in Aramaic). Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛЄΩC - MΙΘPAΔATOY Zeus standing front, head to left, holding eagle in his right hand and long scepter in his left. Kovacs 24. For countermark, Kovacs p. 80, 28.
The author indicates, "Sophene coins are artistically unattractive and usually in poor condition. Not something one highlights in a collection". While I agree that the condition of these coins are usually poor, I see no difference in the artistry with other Greek coins. I stopped collecting Armenian coins as it seems to be on the slumps with so many coins being dumped on Biddr, including Artaxiad coinage. The representative collection that I have is good enough....
