Fr. Hakovbos Dashian
Fr. Hagopos (Jacob) Tashian

25-Oct-1866

3-Feb-1933

Fr. Hagopos (Jacob) Vardapet Tashian was a renowned philologist, linguist, Armenologist, and numismatist. His contributions to Armenian numismatics were particularly significant in his analysis of ancient coins attributed to Armenia. Tashian is best known for his critical engagement with Arshakuni Coins—A Rich Collection, a work by Alexander Aspet Petrovich that sought to classify coins as belonging to Armenia. Tashian published his findings in the scholarly journal Handes Amsorya, where he offered a concise history of Armenian–Parthian relations and provided detailed commentary on Petrovich’s attributions.

Through his analysis, Tashian examined coins linked to rulers such as Vagharshak, Artashes I, Artavazd I, and Tigran the Great. While he recognized the value of Petrovich’s hypotheses for introducing these coins into academic discourse, he ultimately criticized and rejected many of the classifications, particularly the attribution of specific coins to the Armenian Arsacid dynasty. His work not only challenged existing interpretations but also heightened interest in the study of Arshakuni coins, fostering further scholarly debate and advancing Armenian numismatic studies.