KINGS OF ARMENIA – Tigranes II ‘the Great’ (95-56 BC) Æ Tetrachalkon

Struck at Tigranocerta, circa 80-68 BC

This bronze tetrachalkon was minted under Tigranes II ‘the Great’, the most powerful ruler of the Kingdom of Armenia, who expanded his dominion over much of the Near East.

Obverse: Features a right-facing bust of Tigranes II, wearing his iconic tiara, symbolizing his royal and divine status.

Reverse: Depicts Tyche of Antioch, the goddess of fortune, seated to the right on a rock, holding a laurel branch as a symbol of victory and prosperity. Below, the river-god Orontes is shown swimming to the right, representing the city’s connection to the Orontes River. The inscriptions include Δ to the inner left, H above the branch, and A below, likely serving as control marks or mint references.

A historically significant Hellenistic Armenian coin, reflecting Tigranes II’s ambitions and the fusion of Greek and Armenian artistic traditions. A great piece for collectors of ancient Armenian and Near Eastern coinage.