Artaxias I.
King of Greater Armenia, (189-160 BC).
Bronze, 12 mm, 1.47 g.
Mint of Artaxata, aramaic legends.
 
Artaxias I was the founder of the Artaxiad dynasty of Armenia. Artaxias was a member of a branch of the Orontid dynasty. He expanded his kingdom on all sides, consolidating the territory of Greater Armenia. He founded a new capital in the central valley of the Araxes River called Artaxata (Artashat).
 
Obverse: Head of Artaxias I to right, bearded and wearing five-pointed tiara decorated with a star and tied with a diadem.
Reverse: Dog standing right (probably an Armenian wolfhound, or gampr), 𐡌𐡋𐡁𐡏 𐡏𐡓𐡕𐡇𐡔𐡎𐡂 (in Aramaic: “rthṣsy mlk” (King Artashes)).