KINGS OF ARMENIA. Tigranes IV (Restored) and Erato, 2 BC-AD 1. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 21 mm, 6.53 g, 12 h), Artaxata. BACIΛЄYC MЄΓAC NЄOC TIΓPANHC Draped bust of Tigranes IV to right, wearing four-pointed tiara decorated with comet star and tied with a diadem. Rev. ЄPATⲰ BACIΛЄΩC TIΓPANOY AΔЄΛΦH Draped bust of Erato to left. CAA 165-6. Kovacs 179. RPC I 3842. Very rare and unusually well preserved, an exceptionally complete example. Good fine.


Tigranes IV first gained the Armenian throne in 8 BC with Parthian backing, but was deposed in 5 BC by Artavasdes III, who enjoyed Roman support. A few years later Tigranes returned, marrying his half-sister Erato. This time he sought accommodation with Rome and was formally crowned by Augustus. The coinage of the royal pair vividly reflects this shift: the oktachalkoi depict Tigranes IV on the obverse and Augustus on the reverse; the tetrachalkoi (as with the present specimen) show Tigranes IV paired with Erato; while the dichalkoi feature a conjoined bust of both rulers on the obverse and the sacred Mount Ararat on the reverse.

The legends of our coin are of particular note. On the obverse the king is styled 'the new Great King Tigranes': the epithet NЄOC likely alludes to his altered stance toward Rome, while the title 'Great' may suggest that he also ruled another realm, perhaps Sophene. Erato’s titulature, by contrast, reads simply 'Erato, sister of King Tigranes.' It reveals her subordinate position at this stage: she is neither crowned with the royal tiara nor accorded a queenly title, but mentioned only in relation to her brother. Only a decade later, during her brief sole reign, would she - last of the long Orontid line of Armenian rulers - assume the title of queen.