Triton XV, Lot: 1391. Estimate $1500. Sold for $2750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LYDIA, Daldis. Philip I. AD 244-249. Æ (38mm, 26.01 g, 6h). Flavius Aelius Priscus, magistrate. AVT • K • M • IOVΛ • Φ-IΛIΠΠOC • AVΓ, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / ЄΠI ΦΛ AIΛ ΠPЄI-CKO/V APX ΠP/ΩTO B •, ΔAΛΔIA/NΩN in exergue, the Abduction of Persphone: Hades, with billowing chlamys, in quadriga driven right by Eros, carrying away Persephone; fallen flower basket below horses. Unpublished in the standard references. Good VF, dark brown patina with earthen highlights.

Ex Triton IV (5 December 2000), lot 359.

Hades fell in love with Persephone, the daughter of Demeter, and asked Zeus for permission to marry her. Zeus feared to offend his eldest brother by outright refusal, but knew also that Demeter would not forgive him if Persephone were committed to the underworld. In a political move, Zeus decided that stated he could neither give nor withhold his consent. This emboldened Hades to abduct Persephone as she was picking flowers in a meadow and carry her away to the underworld.