Aristonikos – Pretender to the Pergamon Throne

CNG 105, Lot: 358. Estimate $750. Sold for $1100. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LYDIA, Apollonis. Eumenes III (Aristonikos). Pretender to the throne of Pergamon, 132-130 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28.5mm, 12.27 g, 12h). Cistophoric standard. Dated year 3 (of his revolt = 132/1 BC). Cista mystica with serpent; all within ivy wreath / Bow case with serpents; thunderbolt above; to left, laureate and bearded head (Zeus?) left; to right, laureate and beardless head (Dionysos?) right; BA-EY across field within coils of serpents, Γ (date) on lower part of bow case, AΠ-OΛ across lower field. Kleiner & Noe Series 2, obv. die 2; SNG von Aulock 2897 (same obv. die); SNG Copenhagen –; DCA 349. Near EF, dark find patina, some roughness. 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 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.