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

28 mm, 15,56 g

Draped bust of Tigranes II to right, wearing five-pointed tiara decorated with comet star between two eagles / BAΣIΛEΩΣ - TIΓPANOY, the Tyche of Tigranocerta, turreted and veiled, seated right on rock, holding long palm frond in her right hand; below, river-god Araxes swimming right; on rock, monogram; all within wreath.

very fine

Kovacs 75.3; SCADA Group 7; CAA 21; ACV 33.

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.