Pergamene Cistophoric Tetradrachm

The cistophoric tetradrachm from Pergamon prominently displays a cista mystica on its obverse—a lidded basket used in the Eleusinian Mysteries—linking everyday currency to ancient Greek religious rites in a way that few coins do.

These tetradrachms were struck in silver by the Attalid kings, mainly in Pergamon, between about 166 and 67 BC, though exact dates for individual issues remain murky due to lost records. The reverse shows a bow in a case, flanked by serpents, symbols that might nod to Apollo or the Attalids' claims of divine favor. We've got variations with monograms indicating different mints, like those in Ephesus or Smyrna, but the designs stayed consistent.

People love spinning tales about these "mystic symbols" implying hidden powers. In truth, they were likely just propaganda for the Attalids. No evidence of actual magic, I'm afraid.

As for mintage, records burned in ancient fires or were never kept, so we can't pin down numbers. I've handled plenty over the years, and they're solid pieces of history, not talismans.