★ Artaxias I with Antiochos IV, likely the finest known ★

KINGS OF ARMENIA. Artaxias I, 190-160 BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 17 mm, 2.12 g, 12 h), first series, with Aramaic legends. 𐡌𐡋𐡁𐡏 - 𐡏𐡓𐡕𐡇𐡔𐡎𐡂 ('rthṣsy mlk' in Aramaic) Head of Artaxias I to left, bearded and wearing five-pointed bashlyk tied with a diadem. Rev. Diademed head of Antiochos IV (?) to right. Kovacs 39. Very rare and in exceptional condition for the issue, arguably the finest known. Flan fault on the obverse, otherwise, extremely fine.

From an important collection of Armenian coins.

Kovacs convincingly argues in favor of an identification of the diademed head on the reverse of this issue with a Seleukid King, suggesting Antiochos IV, who invaded Armenia in 165 BC.