This work investigates the complex intersection of monetary policy, fiscal administration, and diplomatic strategy within the Attalid kingdom of Pergamon. Peter Thonemann, a scholar specializing in the history of Asia Minor, utilizes numismatic evidence and epigraphic records to reconstruct the economic framework of the Attalid state. The book argues that the kingdom's financial stability was not merely a byproduct of wealth but a deliberate instrument of international influence and internal governance.

Experts recognize this text as a rigorous contribution to the study of Hellenistic political economy. Scholars frequently note the technical depth of the numismatic analysis and the clarity with which the author connects financial data to broader historical trends.