Tigranes the Younger - Series 3, Damascus (69/68 BC) - AR Tetradrachm - ΔΜΣ

Kovacs-136; ANRO-821

Tigranes the Younger 77/6-66 BC
Series 3. Damascus. 71/70-69/8 BC
SE 244 = 69/68 BC
AR Tetradrachm
Obv. Bust of Tigranes the Younger right, draped, wearing tiara decorated with a comet or star and bull's horn, and tied with a diadem. Bead and reel border.
Rev. Tyche of Damascus seated left on rocks, at her feet the river god Chrysoroas; on right downwards ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ; on left TIΓPANOY; in exergue, date ΔMΣ, in outer left field monogram. Wreath border.

Photo courtesy by Bibliothèque nationale de France #41760520 ark:/12148/cb417605202

On the only known example of this coin only the top of the first letter of the date is visible. Therefore, both A and Δ are possible. However, as 136 uses the same obv. die as 135 the logical die sequencing dictates a reading of ΔMΣ. (In SCADA pl.76 the error of identifying A1 and A3 as two different obverse dies can easily be seen.)