Cistophoric Mysteries

“The cistophorus, with its writhing serpents and over-elaborate ornamentation, is perhaps the ugliest coin in the Greek series. Collectors have tended to pass it by, and, maybe in consequence, it has not yet yielded to the Historian all the nourishment which he might extract from it.”

- E.S.G. Robinson, 1954

American Numismatic Society Graduate Seminar

6/17/10

Rick Witschonke

Attalid Political Chronology

301 BC Battle of Ipsus. Lysimacus wins most of Asia Minor.

283 Pergamum granted to Philetaerus of Paphlagonia (son of Attalus) by Lysimacus.

283-263 Reign of Philetaerus

281 Philetaerus joins Selucus I against Lysimacus. Lysimacus defeated at battle of Corpedium

275 Philetaerus has coins struck with portrait of Selucus, but name of Philetaerus as independent dynast.

263-241 Reign of Eumenes I (son of Philetaerus), who expands Attalid territory, defeats Antiochus I (Selucid).

246-241 Third Syrian War (Ptolemies vs. Selucids)

241-197 Reign of Attalus I, adoptive son of Eumenes I

239 Attalus I defeats Antiochus Hierax, Selucid co-Regent, and takes title of King

197-159 Reign of Eumenes II, son of Attalus I

190 Eumenes II sides with Rome, who defeats Antiochus III at battle of Magnesia.

188 Treaty of Apameia grants much of Asia Minor to Attalids. Antiochus pays 477 talent indemnity to Eumenes.

190-170 Major friezes of Great Altar to Zeus at Pergamon erected

187-184 Eumenes II defeats Prusias I of Bithynia with Roman support

182-179 Eumenes II defeats Pharnaces I of Pontus

172-168 Eumenes II supports Rome in defeating Perseus in Third Macedonian War.

-2 - 167 Eumenes II appeals to Rome for support against the Galatians, but is rebuffed.

166 Eumenes II defeats Galatians without Roman support, becomes Champion of the Asian Greeks.

159-139 Reign of Attalus II, brother of Eumenes II

156 Attalus II defeats Orophernes of Cappadocia

156-154 War against Prusias of Bythinia

138-133 Reign of Attalus III, son of Eumenes II

133 Attalus III dies, leaves his Kingdom to the Roman people (“Donation of Attalus”)

133-129 Revolt of Aristonicus, illegitimate son of Eumenes II, against Romans

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Select Bibliography

1. Proto-Cistophoric Countermarks

Bauslaugh, Robert: "Cistophoric Countermarks and the Monetary System of Eumenes II" NC 1990, pp. 39-66 Identifies the countermarks on Attic-weight tetradrachms with indemnity payment after Treaty of Apameia.

Thonemann, Peter: "Cistophoric Geography: Toriaion and Kormasa" Attributes the TOP countermark to Toriaion

2. Early Cistophori

Kleiner, Fred S., and Noe, Sydney P.: The Early Cistophoric Coinage ANS Numismatic Studies 14, 1977 Complete die study of the early cistophori. Dates beginning of cistophori to 166. Also includes Aristonicus.

Ashton, Richard: "The Attalid Poll-Tax" Zeitschrift fur Papyrologie und Epigraphik 104, 1994, pp. 57-60 Cites an Attalid poll tax inscription as evidence that the cistophorus was introduced prior to 181. .

Ashton, Richard: "Macedonian Months on Cistophoric Coins of Tralles" NC 2003, pp. 41-45 Identifies letters on Tyche issues of Tralles as Macedonian months.

3. Aristonicus

Robinson, E.S.G.: "Cistophori in the Name of King Eumenes". NC, 1954, pp. 1-8 Identifies the BA EY cistophori as Aristonicus, not Eumenes II.

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Select Bibliography (cont.)

4. Late Cistophori

Kleiner, Fred S.: "The Dated Cistophori of Ephesus" ANS Museum Notes 18, 1972, pp. 17-32 Catalogues the dated series of Ephesus, 133-66.

Kleiner, Fred S.: "Hoard Evidence and the Late Cistophori of Pergamum" ANS Museum Notes 23, 1978, pp. 77-106 Lists all issues known to him, and dates to 123-67, based on hoard evidence.

Kleiner, Fred S.: "The Late Cistophori of Apameia" Essays in Honor of Margaret Thompson (ed. Morkholm & Waggoner), 1979, pp. 119-130 Die study of issues, dated to 88-67, based on hoard evidence.

5. Proconsular Cistophori

Stumpf, Gerd R.: Numismatische Studien zur Chronologie der Roemischen Statthalter in Kleinasien (Saarbruecken, 1991) Lists all varieties of Proconsular Cistophori

Metcalf, William E.: (Die Study of the Proconsular Cistophori) (ANS NS, forthcoming)

Witschonke, R. and M. Amandry: "Another Fimbria Cistophorus" (AJN 16-17, 2004-5, pp. 87-92

6. Imperial Cistophori

Sutherland, C.H.V.: The Cistophori of Augustus (London, 1970)

Metcalf, William E.: The Cistophori of Hadrian (New York, 1982)

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