30034: ARMENIAN KINGDOM. Kings of Armenia Minor. Aristo

ARMENIAN KINGDOM. Kings of Armenia Minor. Aristobulus (AD 54-92). AE (26mm, 11.89 gm, 12h). NGC Choice XF 4/5 - 3/5. Nicopolis ad Lycum, or Chalkis, dated Regnal Year 13 (AD 66/7). BACIΛEΩC APICTOBOYΛOY ET•IΓ•, diademed, draped bust of Aristobulus left, seen from front / NEPΩ/NI KΛAY / ΔIΩ KAICA/PI CEBACTΩ / ΓEPMANI/KΩ, legend in six lines within wreath. Meshorer 366. Hendin 1257. Extremely rare - only one example in sales archives. A loyal client king of Rome, Aristobulus supported the general Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo in the Roman-Parthian War of AD 58-63. He received a portion of Greater Armenia as reward, and in AD 73 supplied troops to the governor of Syria, Lucius Caesennius Paetus, who had persuaded Vespasian that Antiochus IV of Commagene was planning to revolt and side with Vologases I of Parthia. Aristobulus' decision to strike dated coins in only two years of his reign - years 13 (AD 66/7) and 17 (AD 70/1) - is significant as they mark the beginning and end of the First Jewish-Roman War respectively, honoring first Nero, then Titus, probably representing a public reaffirmation of Aristobulus' loyalty to his Roman patrons. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved