Kings of Armenia. Tigranocerta. Tigranes II "the Great" 95-56 BC. Struck circa 80-68 BC
Tetradrachm AR

25 mm, 15,69 g

Diademed and draped bust right, wearing Armenian tiara with five peaks and emblazoned with star between two eagles; within filleted border / BAΣIΛEΩΣ TIΓPANOY, Tyche of Artaxata seated to right on rock pile, holding palm branch, river god Araxes swimming to right below; Θ to inner right, ΔH monogram to lower left, all within wreath.

Very Fine

Kovacs 74.2; SCADA Group 1; CAA 19; ACV 31.

Tigranokerta was a city founded by the Armenian King Tigranes the Great in the 1st century BC. The city's name is a combination of "Tigranes" and "kerta," meaning "city" in Armenian. The city was strategically located and served as an important center in the region. The Tyche of Tigranokerta coin features the image of the goddess Tyche. Tyche is often depicted as a crowned woman, representing the city's fortune and destiny. She is shown seated on a rock, holding a cornucopia or palm and a sometimes a rudder, symbolizing abundance and control over fate. The river-god Araxes frequently appeared on coins of various ancient cities located along the course of the river Araxes, known today as the Aras River. These depictions served to emphasize the significance of the river to the local culture and economy. The presence of the river-god on coins also demonstrated the connection between the natural world, divine forces, and the prosperity of the city or region.