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Drachm - Artavasdes II
| Issuer | Kingdom of Armenia |
|---|---|
| Year | 40 BC - 39 BC |
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| Value | Drachm (1) |
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| Obverse description | Draped bust of Artavasdes II facing right, wearing a five-pointed tiara adorned with a central star flanked by two eagles and secured with a diadem. The portrait is rendered in the Hellenistic tradition, with carefully detailed drapery at the shoulder. The tiara, a hallmark of Armenian royal iconography, dominates the upper register of the obverse field. |
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| Mintage | ND (40 BC - 39 BC) - ΙΖ = 17 = 30/39 BC |
| Additional information |
Artavasdes II ruled Armenia in one of the most politically treacherous periods the region had seen, navigating between Rome and Parthia with calculated — and ultimately fatal — flexibility. When Mark Antony invaded in 36 BC, Artavasdes initially allied with him against Parthia, then withdrew his cavalry at a critical moment during the campaign. Antony blamed him for the disaster, lured him into a meeting under false pretenses in 34 BC, had him arrested in chains, and paraded him through Alexandria. He was executed by Cleopatra around 31 BC.
This bronze issue predates that capture by several years.