KINGS OF ARMENIA. Tigranes the Younger, 77/6-66 BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 18 mm, 4.52 g, 12 h), Artaxata, RY 8 = 69/8. Draped bust of Tigranes the Younger to right, wearing five-pointed Armenian tiara decorated with a star between two eagles and tied with a diadem; behind, A countermark. Rev. [BA]ΣIΛEΩΣ - [TIΓ]PANOY Palm branch; to lower left, H; to lower right, monogram. Kovacs 151 (same dies); for countermark, p. 79, 16. Extremely rare. The reverse struck slightly off center, otherwise, very fine.


The date on the reverse die of this coin was reengraved from the regnal year 28 of Tigranes II (HK, cf. Kovacs 99 (same reverse die)) to the regnal year 8 (H) of his son Tigranes the Younger. What makes this example especially interesting is the countermark on the obverse: it was applied on the coin after the introduction of the mintmark A for Artaxata on the obverse dies in 64/3 BC.