PERGAMON MYSIA SILVER TETRADRACHM__Serpents_CULT OF BACCHUS____Lucius Antony

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WE06 FRASCATIUS ANCIENTS A BEAUTIFUL SILVER TETRADRACHM (CISTOPHORIC TYPE) OF PERGAMON MYSIA MINTED IN THE 1ST CENTURY BC. The quaestor of this issue is often attributed to Lucius Antonius (Antony), the brother of Mark Antony (thought to be his signed monogram on the obverse), (see Stumpf, pp. 14-17, and RPC I, p. 376, and SNG Cop 444).THE SIZE IS 26.4 MM AND 12.08 GRAMS. Stumpf 3 (M. Antonius M.f.); SNG France 1766-67; SNG Cop 444-45 OBVERSE – Bow-case between two entwined serpents; monogram above, Q to left, staff of Asklepios to right REVERSE – Serpent crawling from within cista mystica with open lid; all within ivy wreath (The Cista Mystica was a basket used for housing sacred snakes in connection with the initiation ceremony into the cult of Bacchus (Dionysus). In the Dionysian mysteries a serpent, representing the god, was carried in a box called a cista on a bed of vine leaves. This may be the Cista mentioned by Clement of Alexandria which was exhibited as containing the phallus of Dionysus.) THE TETRADRACHMThe reverse shows two snakes, entangled around a bow-case. The obverse shows the Cista Mystica with snake emerging from it, surrounded by a crown of ivy. The Cista Mystica was a mystical chest used in the cult worship of Bacchus/Dionysus. It contained a snake, perhaps representing the God himself or his phallus, on a bed of ivy and was often presented by young girls at ceremonies. The depiction on this famous type is what gives the coin its name - the Cistophorus. It was one of the most widely minted coin types in the ancient world. It seems that the Asian Greek states in what is now Turkey minted this coin in unison from around 150 BC. Some scholars believe this was undertaken for the common good, so traders could be confident in a coin of uniform weight and value, representing the collective wealth of Asian Greekdom. The city of Pergamum continued issue of cistophoric tetradrachm for eight decades after the city was willed to Rome in 133 BC.THE CITYPergamon was an ancient city of NW Asia Minor, in Mysia (modern Turkey), in the fertile valley of the Caicus. It became important circa 300 B.C., after the breakup of the Macedonian empire, when a Greek family (the Attalids) established a brilliant center of Hellenistic civilization. The kingdom achieved major importance under Attalus I (d. 197 B.C.), Eumenes II (d. 160 or 159), and Attalus II (d. 138). These kings followed a pro-Roman policy through fear of the imperialism of Philip V of Macedon and of Antiochus III of Syria. The independence of Pergamon ended dramatically when Attalus III (d.133) bequeathed the kingdom to the Roman people. The chief glory of Pergamon was its sculpture, at two periods. The first Pergamene school (circa 250-200) celebrated the decisive victory (circa 230) of Attalus I over the Galatians; the Dying Gaul is an example of the realism of the art. The later period (200-150) produced a frieze for a great altar of Zeus, glorifying especially the defeat (190) of Antiochus III of Syria at Magnesia. Pergamon was the birthplace of Galen. The cultured Pergamene rulers also built up a library second only to the one at Alexandria. One of the library's specialties was the use of parchment, which takes its name from the city. Eventually the library was given by Antony to Cleopatra. Under Rome, Pergamon was reconstituted as the province of Asia, and Ephesus rapidly eclipsed Pergamon as the chief city of Asia Minor. A True Auction Environment – Auctions start at $.99 with No Minimums and No Reserves.FULL UNCONDITIONAL GUARANTEE OF AUTHENTICITY If the buyer feels that the coin received is not as represented - just return the coin and the buyer will be fully reimbursed for the cost of the coin; the original shipping charge; and the cost to ship the coin back… No Questions Asked. If the buyer is not happy, please let me know, and I will do what I can to make it right. INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS WELCOME. HAVE SHIPPED TO OVER 80 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES COVERING EVERY CONTINENT !! If... read more

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