KINGS OF ARMENIA. Tigranes II ‘the Great’, 95-56 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 29 mm, 15.81 g, 12 h), Tigranokerta (?), circa 71/0-69/8. Draped bust of Tigranes II to right, wearing five-pointed tiara decorated with comet star between two eagles.
Rev. BAΣIΛEΩ[Σ] - TIΓPANOY Eutychides' Tyche of Antiochia, turreted and veiled, seated right on rock, holding long palm frond in her right hand; below, river-god Orontes swimming right; Δ-H across central field; to upper left, star; to lower left, M. Kovacs 76.3. Very rare. Light scratches on the obverse and slight die shift on the reverse
, otherwise, very fine.
From a European collection, formed before 2005.
This very rare coin displays an intriguing detail: the side flap of the tiara was altered in antiquity to reveal a motif resembling a palm leaf. This may have been intended to evoke laurel branches, thereby imbuing the king’s headdress with a victorious connotation. It was certainly not an official practice of the mint, but rather a private, later modification - in the manner of a graffito.
