Civilization: Kingdom of Pergamon
Ruler: Eumenes I
Mint: Pergamon
Year: 260 - 230 BC
Composition: Bronze
Denomination: Chalkon
Diameter: 12.0mm
Weight: 1.82g
Reference: SNG France 1682-7

Obverse
Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet

Reverse
ΦΙΛΕ / ΤΑΙΡΟΥ. Bow facing up.

Eumenes I reigned successively over the Kingdom of Pergamon during a critical period of its transformation from a subordinate territory to an independent Hellenistic power. Eumenes I (r. 263–241 BCE) assumed power as the nephew and successor of Philetairos, the founder of the Attalid dynasty. Although coins continued to be struck in the name of Philetairos during his reign, Eumenes I established Pergamon’s autonomy by defeating Antiochus I Soter of the Seleucid Empire at the Battle of Sardis in 261 BCE. This victory secured Pergamon’s independence and set the stage for its rise as a regional power.

Eumenes I's rule laid the foundation for Pergamon’s prosperity, but it was under his successor, Attalos I (r. 241–197 BCE), that the kingdom achieved greater prominence. Attalos I, known for his military acumen and adoption of the title “king,” consolidated Pergamon’s independence by repelling invasions from the Galatians, a Celtic people who had threatened Asia Minor for decades. His victories over the Galatians not only bolstered his kingdom’s security but also earned him the title “Soter” (Savior). Attalos I celebrated these triumphs by dedicating monuments in the sanctuary of Athena at Pergamon, emphasizing his role as a defender of Greek culture and civilization.

During Attalos I’s reign, Pergamon extended its influence through alliances with Rome and participation in conflicts that weakened larger Hellenistic states, such as the Seleucid and Macedonian kingdoms. This period marked Pergamon’s emergence as a major player in the politics of the eastern Mediterranean, setting the stage for its eventual status as a cultural and political hub under later Attalid rulers. The reigns of Eumenes I and Attalos I exemplified the strategic and cultural achievements that defined the kingdom’s early history.