KINGS of PERGAMON. Eumenes I. 263-241 BC. AR Tetradrachm (31mm, 17.04 g, 12h). In the name of Philetairos. Pergamon mint. Struck circa 255/0-241 BC. EF.

CNG Feature Auction 133
Lot: 293. Estimated: $ 1 000

Greek, 12h, Coin-in-Hand Video, Silver

Sold For $ 3 500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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KINGS of PERGAMON. Eumenes I. 263-241 BC. AR Tetradrachm (31mm, 17.04 g, 12h). In the name of Philetairos. Pergamon mint. Struck circa 255/0-241 BC. Laureate head of Philetairos right / Athena enthroned left, left elbow resting on shield to right, crowning dynastic name with wreath; transverse spear in background, ivy leaf to outer left, monogram to inner left, bow to right. Westermark Group IVA, unlisted obv. die; CN Online Type 8455 (Attalos I); HGC 8, 789. Lightly toned. EF. High relief.

Ex Classical Numismatic Group inventory 446782 (January 2017); Classical Numismatic Group 103 (14 September 2016), lot 219.

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. Philetairos continued to acknowledge Seleukid primacy for some time, but soon struck a coinage with his own portrait and name. 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. In 261 BC his successor, Eumenes I, defeated Antiochos I in battle near Sardis in Lydia, securing Pergamene independence. The remainder of Eumenes’ reign saw an expansion of Pergamene power, including the foundation of a number of cities, at the expense of the Seleukids. The city of Pergamon was built into a magnificent metropolis, complete with some of the finest buildings and artworks of the Hellenistic world and a library rivaling that of Alexandria.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 133 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 15-16 September 2026.

CNG Feature Auction 133 – Session One – Lot 1-308 will be held Tuesday morning, 15 September 2026 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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