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(BC 133-130) Eumenes III - Cistophoric Tetradrachm1724 viewsEumenes III (Aristonikos), pretender to the throne of Pergamon, 133-130 BC. AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm (12.47g), struck in Lydia, Thyateia, dated year 2 (of his revolt=132/1 BC). Cista mystica with serpent; all within ivy wreath / Bow-case with serpents; thunderbolt above, [Θ]ΥΑ, to left; male head (Dionysos?) to right; within coils of serpents, BA-EY and B (date). VF, toned, reverse slightly double-struck. Very rare.
When the Pergamene king Attalos II died in 134 BC, he bequeathed his kingdom to the Romans. Because the Romans were slow in securing their claim, Aristonikos, son of the earlier Pergamene king Eumenes II, filled the power vacuum, claiming the throne and taking the dynastic name Eumenes. Although unable to capture Pergamon, his revolt lasted four years, until he was defeated and captured by the Romans under the consul M. Perperna. After his surrender, he was paraded through Rome and executed.
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(BC 133-130) Eumenes III - Cistophoric Tetradrachm830 viewsAristonikos as Eumenes III, 133-130 BC. AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm (30mm, 11.94g, 11h), dated year 3 (132/131 BC). Mobile mint, struck in Lydia, Apollonis. Cista mystica with open lid, snake crawling out to left, all in ivy wreath / ΒΑ-ΕΥ /Γ/ ΑΠ-ΟΛ, Two snakes around bow case decorated with aphlaston, thunderbolt above; in left field, head of Zeus (?) left, in right, head of Dionysos (?) right. Corroded, VF. Ex Gorny & Mosch, Auk. 113 (10/2001), 5250.
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(BC 133-130) Eumenes III - Cistophoric Tetradrachm800 viewsAristonikos as Eumenes III, 133-130 BC. AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm (26mm, 12.11g, 12h), dated year 4 (131/130 BC). Mobile mint, struck in Lydia, Apollonis. Cista mystica with open lid, snake crawling out to left, all in ivy wreath / ΒΑ-ΕΥ /Δ/ ΑΠ-ΟΛ, Two snakes around bow case decorated with aphlaston, thunderbolt above; in left field, head of Zeus (?) left, in right, head of Dionysos (?) right. VF. Very rare.
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(BC 133-130) Eumenes III - Cistophoric Tetradrachm261 viewsEumenes III Aristonikos (pretender to the throne of Pergamon), 132-130 BC. AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm (27mm, 12.83g), struck at Thyateira, dated year 1 (of his revolt, 133/2 BC). Cista mystica with serpent; all within ivy wreath / Bowcase between two serpents; ΘVA to left. Controls: BA-EY across field, horizontal winged thunderbolt above, A (date) below to left; to right, head (of Dionysos?) right. gVF.
A pretender to the Pergamene throne following the death of Attalos III, Aristonikos, adopting the name Eumenes III and claiming to be the son of Eumenes II, secured the kingdom for a brief period, issuing a series of Cistophoroi from Thyateira, Apollonis and Stratonikeia. Attalos had bequeathed the kingdom to the Romans, but they were slow to recognize this fact, and Aristonikos took advantage. Though dated coinage is known for years 2-4, years 1 and 5 are extremely rare, with just a couple specimens known.
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(BC 138-133) Attalos III - Cistophoric Tetradrachm257 viewsAttalos III (King of Pergamon), 138-133 BC. AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm (30mm, 12.78g), struck at Ephesos, dated RY 2 (138/7 BC). Cista mystica with serpent; all within ivy wreath / Bowcase between two serpents; EΦΕ to left. Controls: To right, B (date) above facing bust of Artemis Ephesia with headdress. gVF.
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(BC 145-140) Tetradrachm363 viewsca 145-140 BC. AR Tetradrachm (31.5mm, 16.37g, 12h). Stephanophoric type. Head of Demeter right, wearing wreath of grain ears and triple-pendant earring / Two Kabeiroi, nude but for cloak tied at their necks, standing facing, each wearing laurel wreath and holding staff in outer hand; ΘEΩN KABEIPΩN at sides, ΣYPIΩN below, monogram to lower right; all within wreath. Good VF, toned, light porosity. Very rare.
This issue was attributed to the island of Syros based on the reverse legend. Recent scholarship, however, has convincingly shown that this is erroneous, as the reverse legend does not contain an ethnic, but names the type: the Divine Syrian Kaberioi. As the issue has long been linked to a rare portrait emission of Eumenes I with the same reverse type, it is clear that it must belong to a mint in the sphere of the kings of Pergamon. Although it is tempting to attribute it to the royal mint at Pergamon, this Attic-standard issue could have been struck at one of several mints under Attalid control. See A. Meadows, “The Closed Currency System of the Attalid Kingdom†in P. Thonemann, Attalid Asia Minor (Oxford, 2013), pp. 184–91 for the most current analysis.
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(BC 160-139) Attalos II - Tetradrachm1184 viewsAttalos II (Philadelphos), 160-139 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.77g), after 150 BC. Laureate head of Philetairos right / ΦΙΛΕΤΑΙΡΟΥ, Athena sitting left on throne; monogram and torch to left, bow to right. Fine toning, partial corrosion, aEF.
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(BC 160-139) Attalos II - Tetradrachm855 viewsAttalos II (Philadelphos), 160-139 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.50g), after 150 BC. Laureate head of Philetairos right / ΦΙΛΕΤΑΙΡΟΥ, Athena sitting left on throne; AP and stylus to left, bow to right. aEF.
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(BC 197-160) Eumenes II - Tetradrachm1174 viewsEumenes II, 197-160 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.75g, 32mm), struck ca 169-160 BC. Laureate head of Philetairos right / ΦΙΛΕΤΑΙΡΟΥ, Athena seated left on throne with lion's leg, wearing long, sleeveless chiton and crested Corinthian helmet, holding spear in left hand, crowning king's name with raised right hand, left elbow resting on large, round shield with gorgoneion; in outer left field, stylis, A in center, bow to right. EF. Rare. Ex Muenzen und Medaillen AG, Basel Fixed Price List 415 (1979), lot 2.
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(BC 200-133) AE 8190 viewsca 200-133 BC. AE8 (0.73g). Helemted head of Athena right / Bow in gorytos, ΦΙΛΕ/ΤΑΙΡΟΥ.
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(BC 200-133) AE 151151 viewsca 200-133 BC. AE15 (3.41g). Helmeted head of Athena right / Coiled snake, head standing right; ΦΙΛΕΤΑΙΡΟΥ to right, monogram to left. Dark green, glazed patina; slight corrosion, good VF.
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(BC 200-133) AE 15987 viewsca 200-133 BC. AE15 (1.92g). Helemted head of Athena right / Bow, ΦΙΛΕ/ΤΑΙΡΟΥ. Dark green patina, VF.
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(BC 200-133) AE 17617 viewsunder Attalids, ca 200-133 BC. AE17 (3.70g). Head of Athena right, wearing helmet decorated with griffin / Asklepios in himation sitting left on stone, holding bowl from which he feeds snake; M below, ΦΙΛΕΤΑΙΡΟΥ to right. Fine light green patina, EF. Scarce type. Gutknecht coll.
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(BC 200-133) AE 17508 views281-133 BC. AE17 (2.98g). Helmeted head of Athena right / Asklepios enthroned to left feeding snake. Very fine.
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(BC 200-133) AE 17253 viewsPhiletairos, 281-263 BC. AE18 (3.81g). Helmeted head of Athena right / ΦΙΛΕΤΑΙΡΟΥ, Asklepios seated left on stool, holding sceptre and feeding serpent coiled to left. EF, nice patina.
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(BC 241-197) Attalos I - Tetdradrachm1149 viewsAttalos I, 241-197 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.93g, 12h). Laureate and diademed head of Philetairos right / ΦΙΛΕΤΑΙΡΟΥ, Athena enthroned left, holding wreath in right hand, left elbow resting on shield set on ground behind, spear below; ivy leaf to outer left, A to inner left, bow to outer right. Superb EF.
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(BC 241-197) Attalos I - Tetdradrachm681 viewsAttalos I, 241-197 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 17.00g, 12h). Struck ca 241-235 BC. Laureate head of Philetairos right / Athena enthroned left, resting on shield to right, crowning dynastic name with wreath; spear in background, bee to outer left, monogram to inner left, bow to right. Near EF, lightly toned, a few small marks. Rare.
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(BC 241-197) Attalos I - Tetradrachm880 viewsAttalos I, 241-197 BC. AR Tetradrachm (17.00g). Laureate head of Philetairos right / ΦΙΛΕΤΑΙΡΟΥ, Athena seated left, holding wreath, left arm resting on shield, spear behind, ivy leaf to outer left, A to inner left, bow to outer right. Lightly toned VF.
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(BC 263-241) Eumenes I - Tetradrachm897 viewsEumenes I, 263-241 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.92g). Laureate head of Philetairos right / ΦΙΛΕΤΑΙΡΟΥ, Athena seated left, holding shield and spear, ivy leaf above knee, bow to right, A on throne. Good VF, toned, minor porosity.
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(BC 263-241) Eumenes I - Tetradrachm868 viewsEumenes I. 263-241 BC. AR Tetradrachm (17.14g, 12h). Laureate and diademed head of Philetairos right / ΦIΛETAIPOY, Athena enthroned left, holding shield with right hand, spear in left arm, left elbow resting on sphinx; ivy leaf above knee, bow to right, A on throne. EF, lightly toned.
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(BC 263-241) Eumenes I - Tetradrachm610 viewsEumenes I, 263-241 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29mm, 17.02g, 12h). Struck ca 255/50-241 BC. Laureate head of Philetairos right / Athena enthroned left, resting on shield to right, holding transverse spear; ivy leaf to outer left, monogram to inner left, bow to outer right. EF, toned, tiny edge nick, area of slight roughness on reverse.
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(BC 263-241) Eumenes I - Tetradrachm677 viewsEumenes I, 263-241 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29mm, 17.20g, 1h). Struck ca 263-255/50 BC. Laureate head of Philetairos right / Athena enthroned left, resting elbow on small sphinx, holding shield and transverse spear; ivy leaf to inner left, monogram on throne, bow to outer right. EF, toned, light bag marks.
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(BC 282-133) AE 11952 viewsPhiletairos, 282-263 BC. AE11 (1.55g, 11h). Helmeted head of Athena right / ΦΙΛΕ-ΤΑΙΡΟΥ, ivy leaf. VF, dark green patina, faint cleaning scratches on obverse.
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(BC 282-133) AE 14517 viewsPhiletairos, 282-263 BC. AE14 (3.53g, 11h). Helmeted head of Athena right / ΦΙΛΕΤΑΙΡΟΥ, thyrsos; in left field, A above M. Near VF, dark green patina, light cleaning scratches on obverse.
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(BC 282-263) Philetairos I - Tetradrachm3330 viewsPhiletairos I, 282-263 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.85g). Diademed head of Philetairos right / ΦΙΛΕΤΑΙΡΟΥ, Athena enthroned left, holding shield and spear, left elbow resting on sphinx, ivy leaf above knee, A on throne, bow to outer right. Good VF, scattered light porosity, more so on the reverse. Rare.
Westermark attributed this issue to Eumenes I. However, a more recent analysis of hoard evidence has indicated that this coinage is actually struck during the lifetime of Philetairos, near the end of his reign, following the limited issue of tetradrachms bearing the portrait of Seleukos I. A. Davesne, G. Le Rider, Gulnar II. Le tresor de Meydancikkale (Paris, 1989), cf. pp. 334-339.
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(BC 282-263) Philetairos I - Tetradrachm1180 viewsPhiletairos I, 282-263 BC, struck ca 263 BC (possibly lifetime or by successor nephew Eumenes I). AR Tetradrachm (17.02g). Pergamon mint. Head of Philetairos right, wearing taenia / ΦΙΛΕΤΑΙΡΟΥ, Athena enthroned left, resting right hand on shield and left elbow on sphinx, ivy leaf in inner left field, A on throne, bow in right field. Good VF.
There is speculation from hoard evidence that these coins were issued in the late part of Philetairos' reign - the taenia on the head is of interest in this regard.
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(BC 284-263) Philetairos I - Tetradrachm1662 viewsPhiletairos I, 284-263 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.70g). Diademed head of Seleukos I right / ΦΙΛΕΤΑΙΡΟΥ, Athena enthroned left, holding shield and spear, ivy leaf before, bow behind, A on throne. Good VF, reverse a little rough, with scrapes and light graffiti. Rare.
When Lysimachos established the mint of Pergamon, he entrusted its treasury to the eunuch Philetairos. In the latter 280s BC, Philetairos changed his allegiance to Seleukos I. Shortly thereafter in 281 BC, Lysimachos was defeated by Seleukos at the Battle of Korupedion. Although Seleukos was assassinated the following year, Philetairos continued to acknowledge Seleukid primacy. This coinage, commemorating Seleukos I, was struck while Pergamon was still loyal to the Seleukids, under their king Antiochos I. Houghton & Lorber (SC), citing Le Rider and Newell, assign this coinage to the aftermath of Antiochos' victory over the Galatians, circa 269/8 BC.
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