Ancient Coin Stories

There’s the saying that the journey is often more important than the destination, and that certainly rang true for Elaia, whose main claim to fame was being the port for Pergamon. Normally you wouldn’t think a port would mint coins, but since the Greeks were feisty independent fellows, this one did. Coins from Elaia are very common, though this particular obol is rare.

Alexander the Great never ventured to Pergamon, but it was an important piece in the kingdom of Lysimachos, until Philetairos broke away – most likely during the uproar after Lysimachos executed his son Agathokles. During this time, ever knicknack brought to Pergamon from the west likely came through Elaia, and a tiny portion of it may have been paid with this coin.