KINGS of PERGAMON. Eumenes I. 263-241 BC. AR Tetradrachm (30mm, 16.99 g, 12h). In the name of Philetairos. Pergamon mint. Struck circa 263-255/0 BC. Near EF.

Keystone 17 – The W. Toliver Besson Collection
Lot: 28. Estimated: $ 2 000

Greek, 12h, Silver

Sold For $ 3 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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KINGS of PERGAMON. Eumenes I. 263-241 BC. AR Tetradrachm (30mm, 16.99 g, 12h). In the name of Philetairos. Pergamon mint. Struck circa 263-255/0 BC. Laureate head of Philetairos right / Athena enthroned left, holding shield, left elbow resting on sphinx seated right; spear diagonally in background, ivy leaf to inner left, bow to outer right, monogram on throne. Westermark Group III, obv. die XXV; CN Online Type 8453. Toned, a couple of light scuffs. Near EF.

From the W. Toliver Besson Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 93 (22 May 2013), lot 357.

The eunuch Philetairos played a canny “game of thrones” in the years following the death of Alexander the Great. Entrusted with an immense treasure in the fortress city of Pergamon by Lysimachos of Thrace, Philetairos soon switched his allegiance to Lysimachos' rival Seleukos I in return for a promise of autonomy within his own realm. Seleukos defeated and killed Lysimachos at Kauropedion in 281 BC, but was assassinated himself soon thereafter. The Pergamene Kingdom officially broke from the Seleukid realm a few years later.

Closing Date and Time: 22 July 2026 at 10:09:00 ET.



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