KINGS OF PERGAMON. Eumenes III (Aristonikos), usurper, 133-130

KINGS OF PERGAMON. Eumenes III (Aristonikos), usurper, 133-130 BC. Cistophorus (Silver, 28 mm, 12.44 g, 12 h), Stratonikeia, RY 4 = 131/0. Cista mystica from which snake coils; around, ivy wreath with fruits. Rev. ΒΑ - ΕΥ / Δ / ΣΤ-ΡΑ; above, thunderbolt Two snakes coiled around a bow case. Kleiner-Noe Series 4, 5a. E.S.G. Robinson: Cistophori in the Name of King Eumenes, in: NC 14/44 (1954), 14. Very rare. An unusually attractive example of this historically important issue. Slightly rough, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.


Ex Leu Web Auction 24, 3-6 December 2022, 1315, and previously from a European collection, acquired before 2021.

This fascinating coin was struck by Eumenes III, originally named Aristonikos, who made a bid for the Pergamene throne after Attalos III had bequeathed the kingdom to the Romans in 133 BC. Eumenes claimed to be a brother of the latter and dismissed Rome's claims, quickly setting about conquering the area. Though he managed to subdue several cities, he failed to take Pergamon and eventually the Roman Senate sent the consul, Marcus Perperna, to quell the uprising. Eumenes was taken to Rome alive in 129 BC, and as was the custom for captured foreign leaders, he was paraded through the city and then executed by strangulation.