Armenian
An ancient and proud nation’s heritage on display.
Four Armenian dynasties – the Artaxiad (spades), Bagratid (hearts), Arsacid (clubs), and Rubenid (diamonds) – are portrayed on the cards. Each king represents a prominent ruler from his dynasty. This includes Tiridates III (King of Clubs), who made Armenia the world’s first nation to embrace Christianity as the state religion, and Tigranes II the Great (King of Spades), whose empire stretched from the Mediterranean to the Caspian seas.
This is explained by the extra cards, which come in Armenian, English, and Russian (as a former Soviet republic, Armenia has a significant Russian-speaking population). The explanatory cards only name the kings – the jacks and queens appear to be warriors and noblewomen garbed in what I’m assuming is period attire. The courts have Armenian rank markings. (It’s unclear whether Armenia has standardized ranking symbols, but this deck’s match those from another Armenian deck.)
Armenian Dynasties playing cards produced by USPCC / Bicycle brand.
A slightly uncomfortable, wimpy king serves as the joker. His identity is unknown beyond the fact that he bears a globus cruciger, marking him as a Christian monarch. Perhaps it’s one of the Russian emperors who ruled over Armenia. The aces, sides of the cards, and backs display what’s presumably Armenian folk designs.
A second version of this deck has international rank markings and a different pattern on the back . Strangely, it lacks the folk designs on the sides of the cards.
By Lev Golinkin
United States • Member since May 26, 2026
I'm a US-based author and journalist. I've been collecting playing cards since I was about 8 years old, when I got mesmerized by the various decks that were used in Soviet Ukraine, where I'm from. I collect mainly European decks such as those by Dondorf, Grimaud, and Piatnik. I love courts above all else, and am drawn toward historical and artistic decks.
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