Եղիա Թ․ Ներսէսեան2025-10-172025-10-171999Ներսէսեան, Ե., Թ., «Տիգրան Բ․ Մեծ եւ Դամասկոսի դրամահատարանը», «Հայկազեան հայագիտական հանդէս», 1999, Պէյրութ, էջ 155-170https://haigrepository.haigazian.edu.lb/handle/123456789/821Tigran the Great controlled, at the zenith of his power, all the local mints in Syria, which issued very attractive coins according to the Seleucid tradition. Tigran’s own coins were struck in Artaxata, Tigranocerta, Antioch, Damascus, and other mints. Moreover, he issued numerous types of copper coins where the reverses displayed Tyche, Hercules, Nike, cornucopia, a palm branch, etc. Coins of Tigran struck in Damascus are different in style from those issued in Antioch and other mints. In Damascus he struck silver and copper coins. All reported silver coins assigned to the mint of Damascus are tetradrachmas, five examples of which are known (Nos. 1, 2a, 2b, 3, 4). On the obverse side of these coins, the bust of Tigran as a young man is shown, looking right and wearing an ornate five-pointed Armenian tiara. The reverse depicts the turreted figure of the Tyche of Damascus, seated left on a rock. Tigran’s Damascene copper coins have similarities with the silver tetradrachmas. The obverses of silver and copper coins are very similar. The coarse style and the Damascus Tyche seated definitely resemble the silver issues. 3 types of copper coins have been noted and assigned to the mint of Damascus: Tyche of Damascus seated left, Tyche of Damascus standing to left, and Nike advancing to left (Nos. 5-10). Recently a new type of copper coin surfaced with the Damascus Tyche standing but a “young looking” Tigran portrayed on the obverse (Nos. 11a, ilb). This coin provides a missing link to other coins not assigned to any mint, where a “young looking” Tigran is also featured. The star and comet type decoration is noteworthy. The traditional Damascene copper issues have one star, a volute to the right, and a coarse style. The specimen under scrutiny is a departure from other Damascus silver and copper issues. Here the king’s portrait has boyish features and a refined style; the decoration consists of a six-pointed comet star and a volute. Based on numismatic data and the obverse style, the author concludes that there was more than one mint operating in or within the vicinity of Damascus. The traditional Damascene issue has one star, one volute, and a coarse style. Other Damascene issues, especially the copper coin with Tyche standing left (No. 11), have a comet star, a volute, a much more refined style, and a boyish portrait. If these six types of copper coins were not issued in a satellite or auxiliary mint of Damascus, they were probably struck in a nearby Seleucid mint, under the influence of the Damascus mint masters.