During the reign of Armenian King Tigran II the Great (reigned 95 – 55 BC), a plethora of coins in his honor has been issued in Armenia. And for a good reason: Tigran II has been the most successful Armenian king! The coins mostly feature the same outlines of the king’s profile, which allows us to think that that’s what King Tigran actually looked like.

Under Tigran II the Great, the Armenian Kingdom reached its greatest territorial extent, allowing Tigran to receive the title King of Kings. Tigran II conquered and dismissed most of Media and captured Judea. He also annexed Atropatene, Corduene, Adiabene, as well as Osroene. Upon receiving the title King of Kings, Tigran built the new capital city of Armenia Tigranocerta at the border between Armenia and Mesopotamia.