Benefactor robinjojo Posted July 10 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted July 10 On June 9th a dealer from Israel sent photos of a group of Tigranes II tetradrachms that were for sale. I've noticed multiple offerings of these coins on auction sites such as Roma, but also to a lesser extend CNG. It appears that a hoard is being slowly released into the numismatic market. Here's the group: 8 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor kirispupis Posted July 10 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted July 10 I've noticed this too. The Leu auction had ten alone. Some of the more worn ones went for very reasonable prices, though the nicer ones still went at normal market rates. My hope is they eventually become as frequent + cheap as the Kamnaskires III issues. Another one that's become a bit more frequent today is Hyspaosines, though I fear I purchased mine before the price went down... 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor robinjojo Posted July 10 · Benefactor Author Benefactor Share Posted July 10 (edited) My experience with these coins is strictly limited. I have a couple of "type" examples that I acquired from CNG many years ago and more recently Roma (an apparent imitation). The general impression that I have is that in the past these coins were considered rare to vary rare, depending on condition and variety, especially regarding marks on the reverse. They have always been quite expensive, which I attribute to their historical interest (the association with the Seleucid Empire under Rome and Rome itself), design (can't beat that Armenian tiara!), the interesting reverse design, plus the relatively limited availability when compared to other ancients. Yes, I agree that this surge in numbers does offer a prudent buyer a chance to acquire a Tigranes II coin at a "reasonable" price. How long this influx will continue is anyone's guess, except, that is, whoever is doing the releasing. Edited July 10 by robinjojo 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewStyleKing Posted July 10 · Member Share Posted July 10 (edited) Yes, I did! Tigranes the dupe of Mithradates, but Pompey gave him a pass so died in his own bed! Edited July 10 by NewStyleKing 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor kirispupis Posted July 10 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted July 10 1 hour ago, robinjojo said: My experience with these coins is strictly limited. I have a couple of "type" examples that I acquired from CNG many years ago and more recently Roma (an apparent imitation). The general impression that I have is that in the past these coins were considered rare to vary rare, depending on condition and variety, especially regarding marks on the reverse. They have always been quite expensive, which I attribute to their historical interest (the association with the Seleucid Empire under Rome and Rome itself), design (can't beat that Armenian tiara!), the interesting reverse design, plus the relatively limited availability when compared to other ancients. Yes, I agree that this surge in numbers does offer a prudent buyer a chance to acquire a Tigranes II coin at a "reasonable" price. How long this influx will continue is anyone's guess, except, that is, whoever is doing the releasing. My understanding is Armenian coins as a whole tend to be in high demand due to a diaspora with a large number of coin collectors who take strong pride in their history and ensure there's a healthy market. Here's my lone Tigranes II. Kings of Armenia. Tigranes II the Great 70-66 BCE 18.65mm 4.22g Obverse: Head of Tigranes right, wearing Armenian tiara Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ / TIΓPAИOY; Tyche seated right on rock, river god swimming right at her feet M&D 24; CAA 92; AC 56 uncertain Armenian mint And here are some others that I think are Armenian. The coinage is very confusing to me. Kings of Commagene. Mithradates I Kallinikos circa 96-70 BCE 19.15mm 4.04g Obverse: Head of Mithradates right, wearing pointed tiara Reverse: Athena Nikephoros standing left, holding Nike Bedoukian, Coinage 20; AC 187 Armenian Kingdom Chalkous Mithradates circa 180s-170s BCE AE Chalkous 12mm 1.10g Obv: draped bust of Mithradates to left, bearded and wearing upright bashlyk tied with a diadem Rev: BACIΛЄⲰC MIΘPAΔATO Kovacs 27 corr. ('Mithradates I of Sophene') 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewStyleKing Posted July 11 · Member Share Posted July 11 Ol' Tigranes had a weight all of his own. Where kings/ countries around him had , if nominally, a reduced attic weight, his "tetradrachms" were somewhat short weight! I wish there was an English language treatise on the coins of this time and geography....deCallatay does his bit but in French which is also impenetrable to us Brits .Tigranes loved capital cities and encouraging people to populate it, the Romans loved removing and levelling it brick by brick and shooing off the population....the Assyrians loved doing that too! Anyway, the levelled city Tigranocerta has not been found to this day, unless that's where these new tets are coming from...otherwise it's from the collection of Baron de Chambrier again. The one thing I have noticed is no examples of the Tiara 'headdress featuring the meteor as its decoration. Both Tig and Mith had this thing about meteorites in their back history! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor kirispupis Posted July 12 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted July 12 Just thought I'd mention that for those of you who would like to pay the "old" prices for these tets, you're in luck. For example, this one sold last month at Heritage for 950 USD - https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=11125532 But you can own it today for only 2300! - https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/palmyra_heritage/120/product/armenian_kingdom_tigranes_ii_the_great_9556_bc_ar_tetradrachm_26mm_1573_gm_1h_ngc/1911137/Default.aspx 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cordoba Posted July 13 · Member Share Posted July 13 5 hours ago, kirispupis said: Just thought I'd mention that for those of you who would like to pay the "old" prices for these tets, you're in luck. For example, this one sold last month at Heritage for 950 USD - https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=11125532 But you can own it today for only 2300! - https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/palmyra_heritage/120/product/armenian_kingdom_tigranes_ii_the_great_9556_bc_ar_tetradrachm_26mm_1573_gm_1h_ngc/1911137/Default.aspx and the photos and description aren't even his lol. he's really doing the work to justify a 2x markup 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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