MYSIA, PERGAMON - AE 19, circa 160-133 BC - STRUCK FOR / IN THYATEIRA (LYDIA) f/vf

weight 5,74gr. | bronze Ø 18mm.

obv. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet
rev. Trophee consisting of Gallic helmet and cuirass, ΘA-monogram
in inner left field, AΘHNAΣ at right, NIKHΦOΡOY at left

Type with city-monogram of Thyateira (Lydia) on reverse.
Interesting and rare.

This coin clearly refers to the sanctuary and temple of Athena Polias Nikephoros (Athena of the City, Bringer of Victory), which stood directly behind and above the theatre of the acropolis, was one of the oldest religious centres of Pergamon, and one of the most important, particularly during the time of the Attalid kings. The sanctuary included the famous Library of Pergamon. The reverse appears to symbolize military victory, probably the victory over the Gauls in 241 BC by Attalos I of Pergamon (Battle of the Kaïkos River).

We know this coin type without monogram, the city monogram of Pergamon and a few other monograms. We think that the pieces without a city monogram are the earliest pieces. At some point, however, it was decided to also mint this coin type for various other cities within the area of the kingdom of Pergamon. Then there was a need to distinguish the pieces of Pergamon from those of the other cities, and so from that moment on we see the city monograms appearing on the coins. In that context we know specimens with monograms that refer to Ephesos (Ionia), Dionysopolis (Phrygia) and Thyateira (Lydia). It is unclear whether these pieces were minted in Pergamon or in the city of mention. A little earlier we also saw this already with the Asklepios / Serpent around Omphalos type, with the city monogram of Thyateira (Lydia). The theory that these are monograms of magistrates seems less likely. After all, then we would also have to find magistrate monograms on pieces with the city-monogram of Pergamon, but these do not exist.

BMC - | SNG.Copenhagen 396 | McClean -  SNG. von Aulock-
SNG.Tübingen 2429 | Weber collection -  SNG.Paris 1885  Kurth -
cf. Mionnet , Descr. de Med. ant.gr. et rom, Suppl., Volume V, page 424,
no.896  von Fritze, Die Münzen von Pergamon, page 29 | Sear - R
dark patina
f/vf

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