Palmyra HeritageAncient Coins & Antiquities · Est. 1995
Palmyra HeritageAncient Coins & Antiquities · Est. 1995
Pergamon silver cistophoric tetradrachm, cista mystica with serpent in ivy wreath obverse, two serpents around bowcase reverse

Mysia, Pergamon AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm – Cista Mystica / Serpents, c. 85–76 BC, VF

$395.00

Silver cistophoros of Pergamon with the sacred basket of Dionysos and two serpents around a bowcase. Struck c. 85–76 BC. VF.

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Description

MYSIA, Pergamon. Circa 166–67 BC. AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm (26.5mm, 12.25 g, 12h). Kt–, prytaneis. Struck circa 85–76 BC.

Obverse: Cista mystica, from which serpent emerges, within ivy wreath.
Reverse: Two serpents entwined around bow and bowcase; above, KT above prytaneis monogram; civic monogram to left, serpent-entwined thyrsos to right.

Kleiner, Hoard 38; CN Online Type 11379; HGC 8, 739.

VF.

History & Context: The basket of Dionysos

The cistophoros, or “basket-bearer,” takes its name from the cista mystica on its obverse: the sacred wicker chest used in the secret rites of Dionysos, with a snake slithering out from under its lid. The Attalid kings of Pergamon introduced the coin around 166 BC as the shared currency of their kingdom, deliberately lighter than other tetradrachms so it stayed in circulation at home. Pergamon’s cities kept striking it after Rome inherited the kingdom in 133 BC. This example was struck around 85–76 BC, in the troubled years after Mithridates VI of Pontus swept through the province of Asia and Sulla’s legions took it back.