ԱԿՆԱՐԿ ՏԻԳՐԱՆ II-Ի ԴՐԱՄԱԿԱՆ ԹՈՂԱՐԿՈՒՄՆԵՐԻ ԺԱՄԱՆԱԿԱԳՐՈՒԹՅԱՆ ՄԱՍԻՆ (ԱՆԳԼ.) / NOTE ON THE CHRONOLOGY OF COINAGE ISSUED BY TIGRANES II

In this study, we believe that we have established that the reign of Tigranes II should be divided into four periods, to each period of which we can attribute a homogenous set of coins. The first and last periods present no major difficulties. The central, “imperial” period is also fairly easy to analyze, although many aspects still demand examination. The period of dated coins, which we suggest coincides with the period of Tigranes II's large-scale military campaigns, can be dated to the decade beginning in 80 BC. The division of the reign into four distinct periods enables us to analyze variations in his coinage, which might otherwise seem erratic. We noted that Tigranes II stands out through the use of three successive eras (Tigranid, Seleucid and Pompeian) in three particular contexts, none of which constitutes his regnal era. It should also be noted the different types of tiara used by Tigranes. He is primarily known for a specific type of tiara with a star framed by two eagles. This tiara is the most often seen, but it is not the only one worn by the king, nor was it the dynastic tiara of the Artaxiads. We can see on some coins a large star on his tiara and nothing else. Then come the coins from the “imperial” phase, covering two distinct monetary periods, during which the tiara includes a star framed by two eagles. The third and last phase corresponds to the period after the Pompeian reorganization (66-55 BC), the coins are decorated with a star or perhaps a comet (or star and bull’s horn). Thus, Tigranes II embodied each phase of his rule in different tiaras.