Argishti I, King of Urartu

ANRO-1454

Obverse: Head of Argishti left, wearing headdress; cuneiform inscription to right.
Reverse: Figure driving biga right; crenelated wall in background.
Specifications: 57mm, 101.32 g, 12h
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Image shown: CNG e474 Lot 568 Ex Professor Asbed Donabedian Collection (1923-1993)

This medal pays tribute to Argishti I, a prominent King of Urartu who ruled from 786 to 764 BC. As a skilled and ambitious ruler, Argishti I was responsible for the expansion of the Urartian Kingdom, which encompassed much of present-day Armenia and parts of eastern Turkey, northwestern Iran, and the Caucasus region. Under his reign, the kingdom prospered, and he notably founded the city of Erebuni (modern-day Yerevan) in 782 BC. The medal serves as an homage to Argishti I's significant contributions to the region's history, as well as a reminder of the rich and storied past of Armenia and its neighboring territories.