 |
|
| |
|
 |
MYSIA - ORONTES, satrap of Mysia, circa 362-344 BC - AR Hemisiglos of tetrobol, probably struck in Adramytteion
weight 2,55gr. ; zilver Ø 12mm.
obv. Head of Athena right, wearing helmet with large crest
rev. Forepart of Pegasos right, OPONTA above, in incuse square
Orontes is very often mentioned in connection with things Persian between 401 and 349 BC; thus he faced the Ten Thousand Greeks at their withdrawal across Armenia to the Black Sea, especially at the river Centrites, which formed the frontier between the Carduchians and the Armenians. In 386/5 BC he was the chief of the Persian infantry in the war against the Cyprian king Euagoras. After having wrongfully accused the commander of the navy, his fellow-satrap Tiribazus, who then was taken prisoner and sent to the royal court but was finally acquitted and reinstalled, Orontes had made peace in a form which was advantageous for Euagoras and therefore was not accepted by the king. Owing to these circumstances he fell from favor with the king.
In later years (after 362/1 BC) this same Orontes was ″satrap of Mysia″ (rather, the subordinate governor of some coastal province) and the leader of the revolting satraps of Asia Minor, for which position he was best fitting because of his noble birth, his kinship with the king, and not least his deep-rooted hatred of the king. Misled by his love of power and fraud (as in the Cyprian War before), he betrayed his fellow satraps to the king. But he revolted a second time, probably owing to his dissatisfaction with the king′s rewards, and launched several attacks, which were continued round 354/3 BC in the reign of the new king Artaxerxes III Ochus. During that time he also conquered and occupied the town of Pergamum, but finally he must have become reconciled with the king, since this Pergamene inscription goes on to say that he gave back the town to the king and died then, supposedly in 344 BC. In 349/8 he was honored by a decree of the Athenians with the civic rights and a golden wreath.
BMC pag.326,15 (Ionia) ; SNG.Copenhagen- ; SNG. von Aulock- ;
Slg.Klein-; SNG.Delepierre- ; SNG.Kayhan 71; Babelon, Traité , pl.88,1 ;
SNG.France1661 (Lampsakos) ; cf. Hyla A. Troxell, Orontes, Satrap of Mysia,
SNR 60 (1981), cf. 29, 1 (head of Athena left and rev. legend different) RRR
Highly interesting historical coin. Extremely rare.
vf |
|
| |
|
 |
MYSIA, ADRAMYTION - AE 13, circa 350 BC
weight 1,32gr. ; bronze Ø 11mm.
obv. Laureate portrait of Zeus facing
rev. Eagle standing left on altar, AΔΡA above
The city Adramytteion was a coastal town, located Northwest of Pergamon. A legend tell us that the city was founded by Adramys, a brother of the Lydian King Kroisos. The city is also mentioned in the New Testament (acts 27:2) when Apostle Paul whished to take a ship from Adramytteion to Sidon. Today it is the Turkish seaside resort of Edremit.
BMC- ; SNG.Copenhagen- ; SNG.von Aulock - ; Slg.Klein 249 ;
von Fritze pag.10,5 (Pl.I,6) ; Babelon, Traité 2519 (Pl.170,16) RR
Light traces of oxidation. Dark patina. Very rare.
vf- |
|
| |
|
 |
MYSIA, ADRAMYTTEION - AE 11, circa 350 BC
weight 1,77gr. ; bronze Ø 11mm.
obv. Laureate portrait of Zeus right
rev. Forepart of Pegasos right, ADRAMY around
The city Adramytteion was a coastal town, located Northwest of Pergamon. A legend tell us that the city was founded by Adramys, a brother of the Lydian King Kroisos. The city is also mentioned in the New Testament (acts 27:2) when Apostle Paul whished to take a ship from Adramytteion to Sidon. Today it is the Turkish seaside resort of Edremit.
BMC- ; SNG.Copenhagen- ; SNG.von Aulock - ; Slg.Klein 246 ;
von Fritze pag.10, 3 (Pl.I, 4) ; SNG.Paris- ; Babelon, Traité II, 2, 2517 ;
McClean- ; Weber collection- ; Lindgren collection- ; Sear- R
Rare bronze coin of fine style, with a dark patina.
Minor traces of oxidation.
vf- |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
 |
MYSIA, KYZIKOS - EL Stater or kyzikenos, circa 550-480 BC
weight 16,05gr. ; electron Ø 18mm.
Phocaean weight standard
obv. Bull left in attempt to stand up, tunny below
rev. Quadripartite incuse square
Kyzikos was an important city on the northwestern coast of Anatolia, well positioned to take advantage of trade across and through the Sea of Marmara. Its coinage was in more or less continuous production from about 550 BC to circa AD 630, a nearly 1200 year span unmatched by any other ancient mint. The tunny (tuna) fish was the symbol of Kyzikos from mid-6th century BC, when the city began striking electrum staters and fractions that circulated so widely the generic term for a stater became a kyzikenos, worth 28 drachmae. The fishing trade was critical to the economy of Kyzikos and it is likely the tunny fish became a form of pre-coinage currency, which carried over to become a mint symbol after the invention of coinage in nearby Lydia.
BMC - (cf. 87=1/6 stater) ; SNG. von Aulock- ; SNG.Copenhagen- ;
Gulbenkian - ; Jameson - (cf. 1415) ; Weber collection - (cf. 5012) ;
H. von Fritze, "Die Elektronprägung von Kyzikus," Nomisma VII (1912),
89, pl. III, 8) ; McClean - (cf. 7563) ; SNG.France - (cf. 222) ;
Rosen collection - ; Babelon, Traité II, 2762 (Pl. CLXXVI, 41) RRR
Wonderful electrum archaic stater. Extremely rare.
vf/xf |
|
| |
|
 |
MYSIA, KYZIKOS - EL Stater or kyzikenos, circa 550-480 BC
weight 16,08gr. ; electron Ø 18mm.
Phocaean weight standard
obv. Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet; behind, tunny
rev. Quadripartite incuse square
Large impressive electrum coin from the early period near the
beginning of the invention of stamped coinage. Very rare.
Kyzikos was an important city on the northwestern coast of Anatolia, well positioned to take advantage of trade across and through the Sea of Marmara. Its coinage was in more or less continuous production from about 550 BC to circa AD 630, a nearly 1200 year span unmatched by any other ancient mint. The tunny (tuna) fish was the symbol of Kyzikos from mid-6th century BC, when the city began striking electrum staters and fractions that circulated so widely the generic term for a stater became a kyzikenos, worth 28 drachmae. The fishing trade was critical to the economy of Kyzikos and it is likely the tunny fish became a form of pre-coinage currency, which carried over to become a mint symbol after the invention of coinage in nearby Lydia.
cf. Morton & Eden, auction 59, Lot 747 (good vf ; GBP 20.000 + 15%)
BMC 18 ; Gillet 1058 ; Gulbenkian 608 ; Jameson 2168 ;
H. von Fritze, "Die Elektronprägung von Kyzikus," Nomisma VII (1912),
64, pl. II, 17 ; SNG BN - ; Boston MFA 1432 = Warren 1445 ;
Greenwell 26 ; Jameson 2168 ; Weber collection 4970 ;
Babelon, Traité Pl. VI, 28 ; Rosen collection 445 ; SNG.France- RR
Very attractive for this early type.
vf |
|
| |
|
 |
MYSIA, KYZIKOS - EL Stater or kyzikenos, circa 550-480 BC
weight 16,08gr. ; electron Ø ca. 19mm.
Phocaean weight standard
obv. Nude male figure, kneeling on one knee left,
holding tunny by its tail.
rev. Quadripartite incuse square
Large impressive electrum coin from the early period near
the beginning of the invention of coinage. Very rare.
Kyzikos was an important city on the northwestern coast of Anatolia, well positioned to take advantage of trade across and through the Sea of Marmara. Its coinage was in more or less continuous production from about 550 BC to circa AD 630, a nearly 1200 year span unmatched by any other ancient mint. The tunny (tuna) fish was the symbol of Kyzikos from mid-6th century BC, when the city began striking electrum staters and fractions that circulated so widely the generic term for a stater became a kyzikenos, worth 28 drachmae. The fishing trade was critical to the economy of Kyzikos and it is likely the tunny fish became a form of pre-coinage currency, which carried over to become a mint symbol after the invention of coinage in nearby Lydia.
BMC 28 ; SNG. von Aulock- ; SNG.Copenhagen- ;
McClean - ; McDonanld - ; Gulbenkian - ; Jameson - ;
H. von Fritze, "Die Elektronprägung von Kyzikus,"
Nomisma VII (1912), page 9, no.112 (pl. III, 31) ;
Weber collection - ; Greenwell 86 ; SNG.France 253 ;
Rosen collection - ; Boston MFA 1487 = Warren 1502 ;
Pozzi - ; Babelon, Traité -- RR
very attractive archaic stater with fine details
vf/xf |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
 |
MYSIA, KYZIKOS - EL Stater or kyzikenos, circa 500-450 BC
weight 15,88gr. ; electron Ø 18mm.
Phocaean weight standard
obv. Naked male figure (one of the Argonauts ?), beardless, kneeling
to left on left knee and holding a tunny by the tail in each hand
rev. Quadripartite incuse square
Large impressive electrum coin from the archaic period. Very rare.
Kyzikos was an important city on the northwestern coast of Anatolia, well positioned to take advantage of trade across and through the Sea of Marmara. Its coinage was in more or less continuous production from about 550 BC to circa AD 630, a nearly 1200 year span unmatched by any other ancient mint. The tunny (tuna) fish was the symbol of Kyzikos from mid-6th century BC, when the city began striking electrum staters and fractions that circulated so widely the generic term for a stater became a kyzikenos, worth 28 drachmae. The fishing trade was critical to the economy of Kyzikos and it is likely the tunny fish became a form of pre-coinage currency, which carried over to become a mint symbol after the invention of coinage in nearby Lydia.
BMC - (cf. 30 ; same, but man kneeling to right) ; Rosen collection - ;
SNG.France - ; McClean- ; Gulbenkian - ; Jameson - ;
H. von Fritze, "Die Elektronprägung von Kyzikus," Nomisma VII (1912),
70 (pl. II, 23) ; Boston MFA 1478 ; Greenwell 87 (Pl.IV, 9) ;
Weber collection 4978 ; Babelon, Traité II, 2637 (Pl.CLXXIV, 12) RR
vf |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
 |
MYSIA, KYZIKOS - AR 1/16 Stater, 480-450 BC
weight 0,79gr. ; Ø 11mm.
obv. Forepart of boar left, ∃ on shoulder, tunny behind
rev. Head of lion left within incuse square
BMC 118 ; SNG.von Aulock 1214 ; cf. SNG.Copenhagen 48 ;
von Fritze, Nomisma IX, pag.36, group II, 11(pl.V, 12) ;
Mitchiner ACW.97 ; Mitchiner ATAEC- ; Sear 3848var.
SNG Kayhan 55 ; SNG France 378 ; McClean 7577 ;
Babelon, Traité Pl.CLXXVIII, 5-6
vf+ |
|
| |
|
 |
MYSIA, KYZIKOS - AR 1/16 Stater, 480-450 BC
weight 0,73gr. ; Ø 12mm.
obv. Forepart of boar left, ∃ on shoulder, tunny behind
rev. Head of lion left within incuse square
These early silver coins of Kyzikos were minted to the Persian 15-shekel standard.
BMC 118 ; SNG.von Aulock 1214 ; cf. SNG.Copenhagen 48 ;
von Fritze, Nomisma IX, pag.36, group II, 11 (pl.V, 12) ;
Mitchiner ACW.97 ; Mitchiner ATAEC- ; Sear 3848var.
SNG Kayhan 55 ; SNG France 378 ; McClean 7577 ;
Babelon, Traité Pl.CLXXVIII, 5-6
attractive toning
vf |
|
| |
|
 |
MYSIA, KYZIKOS - AR 1/32 Stater, 480-450 BC
weight 0,39gr. ; silver Ø 9mm.
obv.Forepart of running boar left, retrograde K on shoulder, behind tunny upwards
rev. Head of lion left, head of lionesss left above, within incuse square
BMC 119 ; SNG.Copenhagen - ; SNG.von Aulock- ; Sammlung Klein- ;
SNG.Paris 386 ; von Fritze, Nomisma IX , page 36, no.13 (plate V, 15) ;
Aufhäuser Auktion 10,101 ; Sear- R
vf |
|
| |
|
 |
MYSIA, KYZIKOS - AR 1/32 Stater, 480-450 BC
weight 0,28gr. ; silver Ø 6mm.
obv.Forepart of running boar right, behind tunny upwards
rev. Head of lion left, retrograde K left above, within incuse square
BMC 123 ; SNG.Copenhagen - ; SNG.von Aulock- ; Sammlung Klein- ;
SNG.Paris 390 ; von Fritze, Nomisma IX , page 36, no.16 (plate V, 19) ;
Mitchiner ACW.- ; Mitchiner ATAEC- ; Sear- R
vf |
|
| |
|
 |
MYSIA, KYZIKOS - AR 1/32 Stater, circa 480-450 BC
weight 0,35gr. ; silver Ø 7mm.
obv. Forepart of running boar right, behind tunny upwards
rev. Head of lion left, retrograde K left above, within incuse square
BMC 123 ; SNG.Copenhagen - ; SNG.von Aulock- ; Sammlung Klein- ;
SNG.Paris 390 ; von Fritze, Nomisma IX , page 36, no.16 (plate V, 19) ;
Mitchiner ACW.- ; Mitchiner ATAEC- ; Sear- R
vf |
|
| |
|
 |
MYSIA, KYZIKOS - EL 1/6 Stater or hekte, circa 450-400 BC
weight 2,45gr. ; electron Ø 10mm.
obv. Naked bearded male figure (Orestes), wearing chlamys, kneeling left
beside Delphic omphalos on which his left hand rests, in right drawn sword,
beneath, tunny left
rev. Quadripartite incuse square
Orestes, in Greek mythology, son of Agamemnon, king of Mycenae (or Argos), and his wife, Clytemnestra and the brother of Electra. According to Homer, Orestes was away when his father returned from Troy to meet his death at the hands of Aegisthus, his wife′s lover. On reaching manhood, Orestes avenged his father by killing Aegisthus and Clytemnestra. He is the subject of several Ancient Greek plays and of various myths connected with his madness and purification, which retain obscure threads of much older ones. Extremely rare.
Sear 3831 ; BMC 74 ; SNG.von Aulock- ; SNG.Copenhagen - ;
SNG.Paris- ; Rosen collection - ; Delepierre- ; von Fritze- ;
Babelon, Traité Pl.CLXXIV, 25 ; Jameson collection - ;
McClean- ; Gulbenkian collection- RRR
vf/xf |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
 |
MYSIA, LAMPSAKOS - AE 20 , 4th century BC
weight 6,32gr. ; silver Ø 20mm.
obv. Laureate female portrait right, ΛAM before
rev. Forepart of pegasos right, Ψ A M above, thunderbolt below
Lampsakos, ancient Greek city on the Asiatic shore of the Hellespont, best known for its wines, and the chief seat of the worship of Priapus, a god of procreation and fertility. Colonized in 654 BC by Ionian Phocaea, the city had a fine harbour. It took part in the Ionian revolt against Persia (499) and later joined the Delian League. Upon the fall of Athens in 405, Lampsakos came under Persian control until Alexander freed it with the rest of Greece during his invasion in 334. The city, which became the site of one of Alexander′s mints, seems to have been prosperous, as indicated by the high tribute it paid to the Delian League.
BMC - (cf.53) ; SNG.Copenhagen 204var. ; SNG.von Aulock 7400var. ;
SNG.Tübingen 2300var. SNG.Paris- ; SNG.Klein- ; Sear- RR
Dark patina. Very rare.
vf- |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
 |
MYSIA, PERGAMON - GONGYLID DYNASTY, CIRCA 470-400 BC - AR Diobol, circa 450 BC
weight 1,52gr. ; silver Ø 11mm.
obv. Laureate head of Apollo right
rev. Bearded head right, wearing Persian tiara, crescent above,
ΠEPΓA behind, all within incuse square.
The identification of the portrait on the reverse of this issue has been the subject of debate. The individualized features suggest it is the portrait of a person rather than the personification of a deity or mythical figure. Most recently, Winzer assigned this issue to Eurysthenes, but his attribution necessitates a downdating of the issue to circa 400 BC, which is unlikely, and also is based on a misinterpretation of Xenophon, Hellenica 3.1.6 (see Mørkholm, Pergamene, p. 182, note 1). The traditional dating of mid 5th century BC is probably correct, and the exact ruler of Pergamon during this time is uncertain.
Gongylos from Eretria in Euboea, was a 5th-century Greek statesman who served as an intermediary between the Spartans and Xerxes I of the Achaemenid Empire, and was a supporter of the latter. After the defeat of the Second Persian invasion of Greece in 479 BC, Gongylos was forced to flee and take refuge to Achaemenid ruled territory in Asia Minor. There, Xerxes granted him the territory of Pergamon in Asia Minor from circa 470-460 BC as a reward. His descendants ruled over the city until at least 400 BC, forming the Gongylid dynasty of satraps. Gongylos was one of the several Greek aristocrats who took refuge in the Achaemenid Empire following reversals at home, other famous ones being Hippias, Demaratos, and Themistocles. In general, those were generously welcomed by the Achaemenid kings, and received land grants to support them, and ruled over various cities of Asia Minor.
According to Xenophon (Anabasis, 7.8.8-17), when he arrived in Mysia in 399, he met Hellas, the widow of Gongylos and probable daughter of Themistocles, who was living at Pergamon. His two sons, Gorgion and Gongylos the younger, ruled respectively over the cities of Gambrium and Palaegambrium for Gorgion, and Myrina and Grynium for Gongylos. Xenophon received some support from the descendants of Gongylos for his campaign into Asia Minor, as well as from the descendants of Demaratos, a Spartan exile who also had become a satrap for the Achaemenids, in the person of his descendant Prokles. It is thought that the Greek dynasts of Pergamon were punished following the Peace of Antalcidas in 386 BC for their support of the Greeks against the Achaemenids. However, by the mid-4th century BC, the Achaemenid satrap Orontes again allowed the people of Pergamon to settle on the acropolis of their city. This lasted until the conquests of Alexander the Great, when Pergamon became part of the Macedonian Empire.
It is likely that the satrap depicted here is one of the Gongylid rulers, probably Gongylos himself. This coin is regarded the first coin of Pergamon. Highly interesting and very rare.
Given the very refined classic style, the coin dies of this type must have been
made by a very skilled master die cutter. The result was this little masterpiece…..
Von Fritze, Pergamon pl. I, 1 ; Mørkholm, Pergamene 1 ; SNG France 1546-1548 ;
SNG von Aulock 1347 ; Winzer 7.2 (Eurysthenes, satrap of Pergamon) ;
Waddington 946-947 ; Jameson 2223 ; Weber 5154 ;
Babelon, Traité II, pag. 86, no. 45 ; Babelon, Les Perses 374 RR
vf+ |
|
| |
|
 |
MYSIA, PERGAMON - AR Diobol, circa 310 - 284 BC
weight 1,08gr. ; silver Ø 10mm.
obv. Head of young Herakles, clad in skin of a lion
rev. Cultus-statue of Athena facing, brandishing spear and holding shield,
from which hangs fillet, on left ΠEPΓAM
After the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC. his empire was divided among his relatives and several prominent generals, the Diadochi. Pergamon came under the rule of Lysimachus. Gold, silver and bronze coins were minted at Pergamon during this period. The right to mint gold coins was restricted to a small number of towns in Asia Minor, an indication of Perganon′s increasing importance. The minted silver coins in that period probably consisted exclusively of these diobols.
The obverse clearly relates to the Macedonian coinage, while the reverse seems to refer to the Athena sanctuary at Pergamon. The sanctuary and temple of Athena Polias Nikephoros (Athena of the City, Bringer of Victory), which stood directly behind and above the theatre of the acropolis, was one of the oldest religious centres of Pergamon, and one of the most important, particularly during the time of the Attalid kings. The sanctuary included the famous Library of Pergamon.
BMC 5-7 ; SNG.von Aulock 1349 ; SNG.Copenhagen 317 ;
SNG.Tübingen 2359 ; SNG.Paris 1558 ; McClean 7668 ;
Weber collection 5159 ; Sear 3941
light traces of corrosion
f+ à f/vf
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
 |
MYSIA PERGAMON - AE 19, circa 190-160 BC
weight 5,40gr. ; bronze Ø 17mm.
obv. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with a star
rev. Nikè standing to right, holding palm and holding wreath above ΠEPΓAMHNΩN
This coin type in which Nikè, goddess of victory, crowns the city name, can be seen as an allusion to a victory. It is most likely that the type is related to the Battle of Magnesia in December 190 BC. or January 189 BC. It was fought as part of the Roman–Seleucid War, pitting forces of the Roman Republic led by the consul Lucius Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus and the allied Kingdom of Pergamon under Eumenes II against a Seleucid army of Antiochus III the Great. The two armies initially camped north-east of Magnesia ad Sipylum in Asia Minor (modern-day Manisa, Turkey), attempting to provoke each other into a battle on favorable terrain for several days.
When the battle finally began, Eumenes managed to throw the Seleucid left flank into disarray. While Antiochus′cavalry overpowered his adversaries on the right flank of the battlefield, his army′s center collapsed before he could reinforce it. Modern estimates give 10,000 dead for the Seleucids and 5,000 killed for the Romans. The battle resulted in a decisive Roman-Pergamene victory, which led to the Treaty of Apamea, which ended Seleucid domination in Asia Minor.
BMC 135-138 ; SNG.von Aulock - (cf. 1378) ; McClean- (cf. 7681) ; SNG.Paris 1777 ;
SNG.Tübingen 2449 ; Weber collection 5182 ; SNG.Copenhagen 359 ; Sear 3974
attractive dark patina
f/vf |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
 |
MYSIA, PERGAMON - DIODOROU, magistrate - AE 18, circa 190-160 BC
weight 7,61gr. ; bronze Ø 19mm.
obv. Head of Athena right, wearing crested helmet, ΔIOΔΩΡOΥ below
rev. Nikè standing right, holding palm and crowning legend; ΠEPΓAMHNΩN
This coin type in which Nikè, goddess of victory, crowns the city name, can be seen as an allusion to a victory. It is most likely that the type is related to the Battle of Magnesia in December 190 BC. or January 189 BC. It was fought as part of the Roman–Seleucid War, pitting forces of the Roman Republic led by the consul Lucius Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus and the allied Kingdom of Pergamon under Eumenes II against a Seleucid army of Antiochus III the Great. The two armies initially camped north-east of Magnesia ad Sipylum in Asia Minor (modern-day Manisa, Turkey), attempting to provoke each other into a battle on favorable terrain for several days.
When the battle finally began, Eumenes managed to throw the Seleucid left flank into disarray. While Antiochus′cavalry overpowered his adversaries on the right flank of the battlefield, his army′s center collapsed before he could reinforce it. Modern estimates give 10,000 dead for the Seleucids and 5,000 killed for the Romans. The battle resulted in a decisive Roman-Pergamene victory, which led to the Treaty of Apamea, which ended Seleucid domination in Asia Minor.
BMC 141 ; SNG.von Aulock 1378 ; McClean 7683 ; SNG.Paris 1794 ;
Weber collection - (cf. 5184) ; SNG.Copenhagen 364 ; Sear- (cf. 3974)
attractive dark patina
vf+/vf |
|
| |
|
 |
MYSIA PERGAMON - AE 18, circa 190-160 BC
weight 8,39gr. ; bronze Ø 18mm.
obv. Head of Athena right, wearing crested helmet, EΠI ΠEPΓAMEHNΩ (N) below
rev. Nikè standing right, holding palm and crowning legend ΠEPΓAMHNΩN in front
This coin shows us ΠEPΓAMEHNΩN on the obverse, instead of the usual ΠEPΓAMOY.
Very rare variety.
This coin type in which Nikè, goddess of victory, crowns the city name, can be seen as an allusion to a victory. It is most likely that the type is related to the Battle of Magnesia in December 190 BC. or January 189 BC. It was fought as part of the Roman–Seleucid War, pitting forces of the Roman Republic led by the consul Lucius Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus and the allied Kingdom of Pergamon under Eumenes II against a Seleucid army of Antiochus III the Great. The two armies initially camped north-east of Magnesia ad Sipylum in Asia Minor (modern-day Manisa, Turkey), attempting to provoke each other into a battle on favorable terrain for several days.
When the battle finally began, Eumenes managed to throw the Seleucid left flank into disarray. While Antiochus′cavalry overpowered his adversaries on the right flank of the battlefield, his army′s center collapsed before he could reinforce it. Modern estimates give 10,000 dead for the Seleucids and 5,000 killed for the Romans. The battle resulted in a decisive Roman-Pergamene victory, which led to the Treaty of Apamea, which ended Seleucid domination in Asia Minor.
cf. Sear 3974 ; BMC 142var. ; SNG.von Aulock 1379var. ; McClean 7683var. ;
SNG.Paris 1790var. ; Slg.Klein- ; Weber collection 5184var. ; SNG.Copenhagen 365var. RR
Attractive dark patina.
vf |
|
| |
|
 |
MYSIA, PERGAMON - AE 18, circa 190-160 BC
weight 8,78gr. ; bronze Ø 18mm.
obv. Laureate head of Asklepios right
rev. Snake coiled around netted omphalos, head erect,
AΣKΛHΠIOY on right, ΣΩTHPOΣ on left
This coin refers to the Asklepioscult, introduced in Pergamon in the 4th century BC. The reverse refers to the sanctuary of Apollo in Delphi, marked by the Omphalos as centre of the world. Originally this sanctuary was guarded by the serpent python. The legend Asklepiou Soteros means ′Asklepios (our) saviour′.
Sear 3967 ; BMC 158 ; SNG.von Aulock 1372 ; McClean 7690 ; SNG.Paris 1803 ;
Slg.Klein- (cf.285) ; Weber collection 5194 ; SNG.Copenhagen-
Short thick flan. Some minor flaws. Dark patina.
vf
weight 8,78gr. ; bronze Ø 18mm.
obv. Laurated head of Asklepios right
rev. Snake coiled around netted omphalos, head erect, ASKLHPIOU on right, SWTHROS on left
Sear 3967 ; BMC 158 ; SNG.von Aulock 1372 ; McClean 7690 ; SNG.Paris 1803 ;
Slg.Klein- (cf.285) ; Weber collection 5194 ; SNG.Copenhagen-
Short thick flan. Dark patina.
vf- |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
 |
MYSIA, PERGAMON - AE 19, circa 160-133 BC
weight 7,13gr. ; bronze Ø 19mm.
obv. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet
rev. Trophee consisting of Gallic helmet and cuirass, AΘHNAΣ at right,
NIKHΦOΡOY at left
Type without city-monogram on the reverse. Rare.
This coin clearly refers to the sanctuary and temple of Athena Polias Nikephoros (Athena of the City, Bringer of Victory), which stood directly behind and above the theatre of the acropolis, was one of the oldest religious centres of Pergamon, and one of the most important, particularly during the time of the Attalid kings. The sanctuary included the famous Library of Pergamon. The reverse appears to symbolize military victory, probably the victory over the Gauls in 241 BC by Attalos I of Pergamon (Battle of the Kaïkos River).
BMC 180 ; cf. SNG.Copenhagen 393-395 ; cf. McClean 7695 ;
cf. SNG.Tübingen 2425 ; cf. Weber collection 5196 ; SNG.Paris 1875 ;
cf. von Fritze Pl.I, no.25 ; cf. Sear 3960 ; cf. SNG.von Aulock 1374 R
dark patina
vf- |
|
| |
|
 |
MYSIA, PERGAMON - AE 19, circa 160-133 BC - STRUCK FOR / IN THYATEIRA (LYDIA)
weight 5,74gr. ; bronze Ø 18mm.
obv. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet
rev. Trophee consisting of Gallic helmet and cuirass, ΘA-monogram
in inner left field, AΘHNAΣ at right, NIKHΦOΡOY at left
Type with city-monogram of Thyateira (Lydia) on reverse.
Interesting and rare.
This coin clearly refers to the sanctuary and temple of Athena Polias Nikephoros (Athena of the City, Bringer of Victory), which stood directly behind and above the theatre of the acropolis, was one of the oldest religious centres of Pergamon, and one of the most important, particularly during the time of the Attalid kings. The sanctuary included the famous Library of Pergamon. The reverse appears to symbolize military victory, probably the victory over the Gauls in 241 BC by Attalos I of Pergamon (Battle of the Kaïkos River).
We know this coin type without monogram, the city monogram of Pergamon and a few other monograms. We think that the pieces without a city monogram are the earliest pieces. At some point, however, it was decided to also mint this coin type for various other cities within the area of the kingdom of Pergamon. Then there was a need to distinguish the pieces of Pergamon from those of the other cities, and so from that moment on we see the city monograms appearing on the coins. In that context we know specimens with monograms that refer to Ephesos (Ionia), Dionysopolis (Phrygia) and Thyateira (Lydia). It is unclear whether these pieces were minted in Pergamon or in the city of mention. A little earlier we also saw this already with the Asklepios / Serpent around Omphalos type, with the city monogram of Thyateira (Lydia). The theory that these are monograms of magistrates seems less likely. After all, then we would also have to find magistrate monograms on pieces with the city-monogram of Pergamon, but these do not exist.
BMC - ; SNG.Copenhagen 396 ; McClean - ; SNG. von Aulock- ;
SNG.Tübingen 2429 ; Weber collection - ; SNG.Paris 1885 ; Kurth - ;
cf. Mionnet , Descr. de Med. ant.gr. et rom, Suppl., Volume V, page 424,
no.896 ; von Fritze, Die Münzen von Pergamon, page 29 ; Sear - R
dark patina
f/vf |
|
| |
|
 |
MYSIA, PERGAMON - CIVIC COINAGE UNDER ROMAN RULE, 133-67 BC - AR Cistophoros
weight 11,99gr. ; zilver Ø 26mm.
obv. Cista Mystica with half-open lid, from which a serpent emerges,
within heavy ivy-wreath
rev. Two coiled serpents with heads erect, between them strung bow
in case decorated with scroll pattern, to left citymonogram of Pergamon,
IE and monogram above, snake-entwined thyrsos to right
The cistophoric coinage of Asia Minor has always attracted the attention of numerous historians and numismatists. Its unique monetary standards and peculiar political message has made it one of the most intriguing types of tetradrachm in the eastern Mediterranean. The coin was initially created to establish a closed economic policy in Asia Minor centering Pergamon and served as a tribute to Dionysus. Its design was meant to invoke the Attalids′ descends from Dionysus. Despite this political design, coinage of the cistophoric tetradrachme was continued when the kingdom was bequeathed to the Roman Republican government in 133 BC. Throughout the Late Roman Republic, especially in the time of Mark Antony and Augustus, the economic value and political designs changed significantly. The transitions of this era include changes in the coins′ silver content, weight, mint locations, and political messages.
BMC 111 ; SNG.Copenhagen 432 ; SNG.von Aulock 1370 ;
SNG.Tübingen 2399 ; Kleiner 1978, 34 ; Weber collection- ;
McClean 7706 ; Pinder 109 ; SNG.Paris-
obverse slightly struck off-centre
beautiful specimen with excellent details and attractive toning
xf |
|
| |
|
 |
MYSIA, PERGAMON - CIVIC COINAGE UNDER ROMAN RULE, 133-67 BC - AR Cistophoros, circa 85-76 BC
weight 12,59gr. ; zilver Ø 29mm.
obv. Cista Mystica with half-open lid, from which a serpent emerges,
within heavy ivy-wreath
rev. Two coiled serpents with heads erect, between them strung bow
in case decorated with scroll pattern, to left citymonogram of Pergamon,
ΔI and monogram above, snake-entwined thyrsos to right
The cistophoric coinage of Asia Minor has always attracted the attention of numerous historians and numismatists. Its unique monetary standards and peculiar political message has made it one of the most intriguing types of tetradrachm in the eastern Mediterranean. The coin was initially created to establish a closed economic policy in Asia Minor centering Pergamon and served as a tribute to Dionysus. Its design was meant to invoke the Attalids′ descends from Dionysus. Despite this political design, coinage of the cistophoric tetradrachme was continued when the kingdom was bequeathed to the Roman Republican government in 133 BC. Throughout the Late Roman Republic, especially in the time of Mark Antony and Augustus, the economic value and political designs changed significantly. The transitions of this era include changes in the coins′ silver content, weight, mint locations, and political messages.
BMC 106 ; SNG.Copenhagen 420 ; SNG.von Aulock - (cf. 7476) ;
SNG.Tübingen 2389 ; Kleiner 1978, 32 ; Weber collection- ;
McClean - ; Pinder 107 ; SNG.Paris 1734-1735
beautiful specimen with excellent details and attractive toning
xf |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
