Minted in the name of Philetairos.
weight 16,94gr. ; silver Ø 31mm.

obv. Head of Philetairos right, wearing laurel wreath, within border of dots
rev. Athena enthroned left, left elbow resting on shield to right, crowning
dynastic name ΦIΛETAIPOY with wreath held in her extended right hand;
transverse spear in background, ivy leaf to outer left, AΘ monogram to inner left,
bow to right

When Lysimachos established the mint of Pergamon, he entrusted its treasury to the eunuch Philetairos. Philetairos changed his allegiance to Seleukos I, probably shortly before the Battle of Korupedion in 281 BC, where Seleukos defeated Lysimachos. Although Seleukos was assassinated the following year, Philetairos struck a series of Alexander-type issues in the name of Seleukos. Philetairos continued to acknowledge Seleukid primacy for some time, but soon struck a coinage in his own name. This coinage featured Athena Nikephoros on the reverse, similar to the reverses of Lysimachos. Perhaps because this move might have been viewed as a threat by his Seleukid overlord, the obverse of the first issues of these coins featured the portrait of Seleukos I. Houghton & Lorber (SC), citing Le Rider and Newell, assign this coinage to the aftermath of Antiochos I′s victory over the Galatians, circa 269/8 BC. Near the end of Philetairos′ reign, in the mid-late 260s, the portrait of Seleukos was replaced with the portrait of the Pergamene king, noting a final break from Seleukid authority. Similar to what was done in Ptolemaic Egypt, all of the subsequent kings of Pergamon continued to use these types on the coinage, and even kept Philetairos′ name. Distinguishing the issues between the various rulers has been difficult for numismatists. Westermark′s die study of the coinage, however, provided the key necessary for understanding the series, although more recent hoard evidence has refined Westermark′s assignment of the issues.

The Pergamene kingdom had enjoyed considerable autonomy under the Seleukids, but in 261 BC, with the encouragement of Ptolemy II, who was at war against the Seleukids, Eumenes I revolted, and defeated Antiochos I in battle near Sardis in Lydia. The remainder of Eumenes′ reign saw an expansion of Pergamene power, including the foundation of a number of cities. Pergamene expansion was always at the expense of the Seleukids, and the two kingdoms remained in opposition. This opposition reached a climax during the reign of Eumenes II, who allied with the Romans during their war against the Seleukid king Antiochos III ′the Great.′ This alliance directly contributed to the defeat of the Seleukids at the Battle of Magnesia in 190 BC. In gratitude for his assistance, the Romans gave Eumenes control of Phrygia, Lydia, Lycia, and Pamphylia, and sought to strengthen the Pergamene kingdom as a buffer state between themselves and Seleukids.

♦ a masterpiece of Hellenistic portraiture ♦

BMC 35  ; SNG. von Aulock 1356 ; SNG.Copenhagen 335 ;
SNG.Paris 1610 ; SNG.BN.1612 ; Valton 419 ; Waddington 970 ;
SNG.Tübingen 2368 ; Westermark Group IVA, dies LIII/2 ;
cf. Meydancikkale 3009 ; Sear 7220
Sharply struck in high relief. Beautiful coin of the best Hellenistic style
with excellent details. Lovely example for this issue. Real masterpiece.
xf+

weight 16,34gr. ; silver Ø 26,5mm.
minted in the name of Philetairos

obv. Head of Philetairos right, wearing laurel wreath, within border of dots
rev. Athena enthroned left, left elbow resting on shield to right, crowning 
dynastic name ΦIΛETAIPOY with wreath held in her extended right hand; 
transverse spear in background, ivy leaf to outer left, AΘ monogram to
inner left, bow to right

BMC 39  ; SNG. von Aulock - ; SNG.Copenhagen - (cf. 339) ; 
SNG.Paris 1621 ; SNG.Tübingen - ; Westermark Group VI.A. ;
McClean- ; Sear - (cf. 7220-7223) ; SNG. Delepierre -
very attractive portrait
vf+/vf

weight 5,07gr. ; bronze Ø 17mm.

obv. Head of Athena right, wearing crested helmet
rev. Couled serpent right, M above, ΦIΛETAIPOY in field to right

cf. Sear 7228 ; BMC 80 ; SNG.Copenhagen 347 ; SNG.von Aulock- (cf.7455) ;
SNG.Paris 1658 ; McClean- ; Slg.Klein- (cf.283) ; Weber collection 5179
f/vf

weight 3,47gr. ; bronze Ø 17mm.

obv. Head of Athena right, wearing crested helmet
rev. Thyrsos, ΦIΛETAIPOY on right

BMC 70 ; SNG.Copenhagen 342 ; Sear 7229 ;
SNG.von Aulock- ; SNG.Paris 1674
f/vf

weight 1,62gr. ; bronze Ø 12mm.

obv. Head of Athena right, wearing crested helmet
rev. Bow, ΦIΛE above TAIPOY below, ivy-leaf  in right field right

The bronze coins of the kingdom of Pergamon are all minted in the name of the founder of the dynasty, Philetairos. These coins are difficult to date exactly, making attribution to a specific ruler difficult. Presumably most types were minted in the reigns of Eumenes I (263-241 BC) and Attalos I Soter (241-197 BC).

cf. Sear 7233 ; cf. BMC 54-59 ; cf.SNG.Copenhagen 348-350 ; cf. SNG Leipzig 1094 ;
cf. SNG.von Aulock 1364-1365 ; cf. SNG.Paris 1682-1687 ; cf. SNG.Tübingen 2370 ; 
Lindgren collection- ; McClean- ; Slg.Klein- (cf.284) ; cf. Weber collection 5172 ;
Imhoof-Blumer, “Die Münzen der Dynasty von Pergamon”, pag.10, no.52var. RRR
Extremely rare variety with ivy-leaf in right field on reverse. Dark green patina.
f/vf

weight 2,20gr. ; bronze Ø 11mm.

obv. Head of Athena right, wearing crested helmet
rev. Bow, ΦIΛE above TAIPOY below, bunch of grapes (?) in right field

The bronze coins of the kingdom of Pergamon are all minted in the name of the founder of the dynasty, Philetairos. These coins are difficult to date exactly, making attribution to a specific ruler difficult. Presumably most types were minted in the reigns of Eumenes I (263-241 BC) and Attalos I Soter (241-197 BC).

BMC 54var. ; cf. SNG.Copenhagen 348-350 ; cf. SNG.von Aulock 1365 ;
cf. SNG.Paris 1682-1687 ; cf. SNG.Tübingen 2370 ; cf. Sear 7233 ;
cf. Weber collection 5172 ; Lindgren collection- ; cf. McClean 7676 ;
Slg.Klein- (cf. 284) ; cf. SNG Turkey 9-III, 827 and 830 ; Imhoof-Blumer,
“Die Münzen der Dynasty von Pergamon”, pag.10, no.51var.
attractive dark patina
f/vf