£1,200.00
Silver Tetradrachm of King Tigranes II “the Great” (80–68 BC), depicting his turreted and draped bust on the obverse and Tyche seated with palm branch on the reverse, with the river-god Orontes at her feet.
Tigranes II of Armenia Silver Tetradrachm – 80–68 BC
This striking silver tetradrachm was issued under Tigranes II “the Great,” one of the most powerful kings of ancient Armenia.
The obverse presents a fine portrait of Tigranes wearing his distinctive Armenian tiara, richly adorned with a star and eagle motifs, and a draped cloak. His image reflects both his authority and the strong cultural identity of the Armenian kingdom.
The reverse features the goddess Tyche, seated wearing a mural crown, holding a palm branch as a symbol of victory and prosperity. At her feet flows the personification of the river Orontes, completing a highly symbolic design that celebrated both the fortune of the city of Antioch and the strength of Tigranes’ dominion.
Specifications:
Date: 80–68 BC
Monarch: Tigranes II “the Great” of Armenia
Denomination: Tetradrachm
Metal: Silver
Weight: c. 15–16 g (approx.)
Diameter: 26–28 mm (approx.)
Obverse: Turreted and draped bust of Tigranes II
Reverse: Tyche seated left, holding palm branch, the river-god Orontes swimming below
References: cf. SNG Copenhagen 106; cf. Babelon, Tigranes 15
A highly collectable and historically significant Hellenistic issue, this coin reflects both the grandeur of Tigranes’ reign and the artistic quality of Armenian minting in the first century BC.
