Drachm of Tigran the Great with a Comet

Drachm of the Armenian King Tigran II the Great, 95–56 BC. Diameter 20 mm, weight 3.98 grams, struck at the Damascus mint. The obverse shows the king’s bust facing right, wearing a five-pointed Armenian crown decorated with a tailed star.

The appearance of Halley’s Comet in 87 BC was reflected on the coins of Tigran the Great, whose crown is adorned with a «star with a curved tail». By placing this image on his coins, Tigran in effect declared that he did not fear these heavenly omens but embraced them as symbols of his new era.

In the photograph a red arrow points to the star on the crown.