Early Silver Coinage of Elaea and Pergamum – A Comparative Study

Abstract

Earlier studies considered the minting of silver in western Asia Minor cities (5th to early 4th century) as controlled by Athens or the Persian King, who would have been involved in the coin issues on different levels (authorisation for minting, coin types, weight standard). The new attribution to Elaea (Aeolis) of a silver coin so far assigned to Tegea (Arcadia) allows the identification of the denominations and weight standards used at the Aeolian city in the 5th to the 4th century. On this basis, a comparative study with the early silver coinage of Pergamum shows that both cities accorded their silver issues through compatible weight-standards and ultimately influenced those of other cities in the Caicus Valley. Even if the Elaean and Pergamene early silver coinages may have been in use when the two cities were controlled by two opposing empires, their limited volume and small range of denominations suggest that they were independent of Athenian or Persian involvement and had only local significance.