KINGS OF ARMENIA MINOR. Mithradates, circa 180s-170s BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 14 mm, 1.88 g, 11 h). Draped female bust to left. Rev. Draped bust of Mithradates to left, bearded and wearing upright bashlyk tied with a diadem; before, monogram of AP; behind, 𐡒 ('q' in Aramaic). Kovacs 30 corr. (legend not noted and obverse and reverse inverted). Extremely rare and in exceptional condition, by far the finest known example. Extremely fine.


The legend on this issue used to be read as R-P; however, this pristine example shows a monogram of AP before the king's bust and the Aramaic letter 𐡒 behind it. In addition, the strike and flan leave no doubt that the queen is actually on the obverse.