Armenian Artifacts Cheaply Sold on Auctions

Armenian Artifacts Cheaply Sold on AuctionsSomehow, Armenian ancient coins and other artifacts are now being sold at world auctions. Unfortunately, their price is typically quite low.

The below-presented coins of Tigran II the Great are estimated between 50 and 400 USD. But at the same time, they are priceless for Armenians.

The majority of the Armenian artifacts that are featured on auctions are brought from Turkey, which is now occupying the territory of historical Armenia. Turks just rob the Armenian monuments on state level.

International media, including Turkish, repeatedly covered this question. Treasure hunters actively seek for the artifacts hidden in the Ottoman Empire by Armenians fleeing the Armenian Genocide and even share tips on deciphering some alleged signs left by Armenians.

However, I wouldn’t be surprised if it turns out that some of the artifacts featured on auctions come from Armenia itself. The foremost reason for it is the absence of morality in Armenia. Besides, Russians are frequent guests of Armenian archaeological sites, and thanks to them, the most of the discovered artifacts are today displayed in Russian museums. There, the homeland of those artifacts is neutrally marked “Urartu” to possibly distance them from Armenia, though we know that Urartu and Armenia are synonyms.

Museums are the best case scenario. In the worst case, Armenian artifacts appear on various auctions. At least, the origins of the artifacts are clearly stated there.

Maybe, someday, Armenia will start to retrieve its treasures scattered around the world. But they will be sold for astronomical prices, much more than what has been paid to acquire them. Hopefully, the Ministry of Culture of Armenia will be ready to advocate their position.

Tigranes II «The Great,» 95-56 BC. Bronze one-chaclus coin. Diademed and draped bust right, wearing five-pointed Armenian tiara with star / Cornucopiae to right; BASILEWS BASILEON TIGPANOY, TP monogram and A below. 14 mm, 2.48 g. ref: Nercessian ACV 94. Olive-green patina with light earthen deposits, excellent detail! Rough photo. ex-Frank S. Robinson, Albany, NY. A great eample of a scarcer type! #CA2182: $199 SOLD
Tigranes II «The Great,» 95-56 BC. Bronze two-chalci coin. Diademed and draped bust right, wearing Armenian tiara; star flanked by eagles on the tiara / Palm-branch straight up, BASILEUS TIGRANOY. 16 mm, 4.64 g. ref: AC-110. Fantastic portrait! Deep reddish patina. ex-Aegean Numismatics, Mentor, OH; ex-Superior Coin co. #CA2183: $299 SOLD
Tigranes II «The Great, 95-56 BC. Bronze four-chalcoi coin. Diademed and draped bust right, wearing Armenian tiara / Tyche seated right, holding palm frond; below, Orontes swimming right. BASILEWS BASILEON TIGPANOY. 18mm, 6.68 g. ref: Nercessian 48; Bedoukian 93. Nice F+/F, centered, dark patina with earthen highlights, portrait particularly bold. ex-Frank S. Robinson, Albany, NY. Excellent! #CA2252:
Tigranes II «The Great,» 95-56 BC. Bronze four-chalcoi coin. Diademed and draped bust right, wearing Armenian tiara / Tyche seated right, holding palm frond; below, Orontes swimming right. BASILEWS BASILEON TIGPANOY. ref: CAA 92; AC 51. 19 mm, 6.34 g. VF, dark green patina, light deposits, some cleaning marks. From the Aram Manasaryan Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group (CNG). #CA2002:
Tigranes II «The Great,» 95-56 BC. Bronze one-chalcus coin. His diademed and draped bust right, wearing Armenian tiara, countermark to left / Nike advancing left, TIGRANOY AG. Coin 16 mm, 3.64 g. ref: AC-79. Entire piece 18 mm dia. Great portrait. Set into a stunning custom .925 silver bezel. Nice!
Tigranes II «The Great,» 95-56 BC. Large bronze four-chalci coin. Diademed and draped bust right, wearing 4-pointed Armenian tiara / Tyche seated right, holding palm branch; river-god Orontes swimming at her feet, BASILEUS BASILEON TIGRANOY. 22 mm, 5.21 g. ref: AC-59. Overstruck over an Arados, Phoenicia issue of 85-84 BC (BMC-334).
Tigranes II «The Great,» 95-56 BC. Large bronze four-chalci coin. Diademed and draped bust right, wearing Armenian tiara / Nike advancing left, holding wreath, BASILEUS TIGRANOY. 20 mm, 7.71 g. ref: AC-77. Nice portrait, olive-green patina with earthen deposits.
Tigranes II «The Great,» 95-56 BC. Bronze one-chalcus coin. Diademed and draped bust right, wearing Armenian tiara / Bearded nude Hercules standing, head left, holding lion skin and leaning on club, BASILEUS TIGRANOY. 15 mm, 4.00 g. ref: AC-67. Great reverse, olive-green
Tigranes II «The Great,» 95-56 BC. Bronze two-chalci coin. Diademed and draped bust right, wearing Armenian tiara / Palm-branch straight up, BASILEUS TIGRANOY. 18 mm, 5.50 g. ref: AC-110. Good portrait, olive-green patina.
Tigranes II «The Great,» 95-56 BC. Bronze two or four-chalcoi coin, fantastic counterstamp on obverse! Diademed and draped bust right, wearing Armenian tiara, propeller-shaped counter-punch behind / Tyche seated, holding palm frond. BASILEWS BASILEON TIGPANOY. ref: AC 51. 16 mm, 4.64 g. Fascinating and very rare counter-punch!

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