Արտաշէս Գ.ի (Ք.Ե. 18-34) նորայայտ դրամը
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2016
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Following the death of Artaxias II (20 B.C.), Armenia was weakened. Armenian rulers were being appointed by Rome, or Parthia tried to install its own candidates on the throne of Armenia. In many cases, the newly appointed king was not acceptable to the Armenians and he was assassinated, expelled from the country, or forced to flee from Armenia and take refuge elsewhere.
Germanicus was sent by Emperor Tiberius to pacify Armenia and find a person acceptable to the Armenians. He crowned Zeno, the son of King Polemon of Pontus and Queen Pythodoris, as Artaxias III (A.D. 18–34). Germanicus issued silver Roman didrachms and drachms to commemorate the crowning of Artaxias.
Recently, a new bronze coin was discovered and the find published by Frank L. Kovacs. The coin can without doubt be attributed to Artaxias III. The obverse depicts a five-pointed Armenian tiara on the left, an eight-rayed star on the right, and (meaning tetrachalcon) below on the left. The translation of the clockwise circular legend states, "To the Divine Augusti Caesar and Julia." On the reverse is engraved a prancing horse on the right (on some examples, on the left). The translation of the clockwise circular inscription reads, "Of King Artaxias, son of Polemon and Pythodoris."
Additionally, there are some genuine early imitations with the Armenian tiara and prancing horse, but these coins lack the name of King Artaxias III.
The discovery of this bronze coin attributed to Artaxias III adds another piece to the series of Armenian numismatic history. However, the exact authorship of the early imitations mentioned remains unknown.
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Ներսէսեան, Ե., «Արտաշէս Գ.ի (Ք.Ե. 18-34) նորայայտ դրամը», «Հայկազեան հայագիտական հանդէս», 2016, Պէյրութ, էջ 555-562