Artaxiad Kingdom. Tigranes II 'the Great'. Silver Tetradrachm (15.58 g), 95-56 BC Antioch on the Orontes. Diademed and draped bust of Tigranes II right, wearing tiara decorated with star between two eagles. Reverse: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩ-Σ / ΤΙΓΡΑΝΟΥ, Tyche seated right on rock, holding laurel branch; below, river-god Orontes swimming right; all within wreath. Kovacs 75.1; SCADA Group 8; ACV 33. Attrative light toning. NGC grade Ch VF; Strike: 4/5, Surface: 3/5. Before ruling in the mountainous interior of Anatolia, Tigranes II spent his early life as a hostage in the court of Mithradates II of Parthia. When he was 40, he was released and returned to Armenia, where he consolidated his power and began ruling ove a united kingdom. He then turned his attention to his neighbors, expanding his kingdom in all directions at their expense.* During the First Mithradatic War between Mithradates VI of Pontos and Rome, Tigranes was careful to maintain the appearance of neutrality all the while secretly supporting Mithradates. Subsequently, however, he allied with Pontos overtly, marrying Mithradates' daughter, Cleopatra, and sheltering Mithradates when he had been defeated by Rome. This, of course, brought Armenia into direct conflict with Rome, and in two engagements with Lucullus, the Roman consul in charge of pursuing the war against Mithradates, Tigranes was soundly defeated. Lucullus, however, was not successful in capturing either Mithradates or Tigranes, and so after years of conducting an inconclusive war he was recalled to Rome and replaced by Pompey the Great. Pompey was much more effective. He quickly brought Tigranes to heal, forcing him to give up the territories he had conquered during his long reign in return for allowing him to remain on his throne.