Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 561 1 May 2024
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MYSIA, Pergamon. Circa 400 BC. AR Obol (9mm, 0.73 g, 6h). Laureate head of Apollo right / Bearded head right, wearing Persian tiara, within incuse square. Von Fritze, Chronologie, pl. II, 2; SNG Arikantürk 726–7 (hemidrachm); cf. SNG BN 1546–7 (hemidrachm); cf. Winzer 7.1 (hemidrachm). Lightly toned, granular surfaces. VF. Very rare as an obol, only three in CoinArchives.
The identification of the portrait on the reverse of this issue has been the subject of debate. The individualized features suggest it is the portrait of a person rather than the personification of a deity or mythical figure. Most recently, Winzer assigned this issue to Eurysthenes, but this attribution originally posited by E. Babelon in Traité II, is based on a misinterpretation of Xenophon, Hellenica 3.1.6 (see Mørkholm, Pergamene, p. 182, note 1). Mørkholm notes that the natural meaning of that passage in Xenophon is that Eurysthenes, and his brother, Prokles, ruled over Teuthrania and Halisarna, and never had possession of Pergamon. A more likely identification, according to Mørkholm, relies upon Xenophon, Hellenica 7.8.8. After the defeat of the Persians in the early fifth century, Gongylos of Eretria, who had served as an intermediary between the Spartans and Xerxes, was compelled to flee to Asia Minor, where he was granted the territory of Pergamon as a reward from the Great King. His descendants ruled over the city until at least 400 BC, so it is likely that the satrap depicted here is one of the Gongylid rulers.
The identification of the portrait on the reverse of this issue has been the subject of debate. The individualized features suggest it is the portrait of a person rather than the personification of a deity or mythical figure. Most recently, Winzer assigned this issue to Eurysthenes, but this attribution originally posited by E. Babelon in Traité II, is based on a misinterpretation of Xenophon, Hellenica 3.1.6 (see Mørkholm, Pergamene, p. 182, note 1). Mørkholm notes that the natural meaning of that passage in Xenophon is that Eurysthenes, and his brother, Prokles, ruled over Teuthrania and Halisarna, and never had possession of Pergamon. A more likely identification, according to Mørkholm, relies upon Xenophon, Hellenica 7.8.8. After the defeat of the Persians in the early fifth century, Gongylos of Eretria, who had served as an intermediary between the Spartans and Xerxes, was compelled to flee to Asia Minor, where he was granted the territory of Pergamon as a reward from the Great King. His descendants ruled over the city until at least 400 BC, so it is likely that the satrap depicted here is one of the Gongylid rulers.