Pretender to the Throne of Pergamon

CNG 91, Lot: 305. Estimate $500. Sold for $2100. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LYDIA, Thyateira. Eumenes III (Aristonikos). Pretender to the throne of Pergamon, 133-130 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 12.44 g, 12h). Cistophoric standard. Dated year 2 (of his revolt = 132/1 BC). Cista mystica with serpent; all within ivy wreath / Bow-case with serpents; thunderbolt above, ΘYA to left; male head (Dionysos?) to right; within coils of serpents, BA-EY and B (date) across field. Kleiner & Noe Series 1 (dies 1/d); Robinson, Cistophori 1-3 (obv. die A); SNG von Aulock 3198; SNG Copenhagen –; DCA 353. Good VF, lightly toned. 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 he was 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.