PHRYGIA, Hierapolis. Elagabalus. AD 218-222. Æ (38mm, 28.53 g, 6h). Near VF.

Electronic Auction 558
Lot: 329. Estimated: $ 250

Roman Provincial, Bronze

Sold For $ 750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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PHRYGIA, Hierapolis. Elagabalus. AD 218-222. Æ (38mm, 28.53 g, 6h). Laureate and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front, wearing balteus and aegis / The Abduction of Persephone: Hades standing in galloping quadriga right, head left, with billowing chlamys and holding short scepter, carrying struggling Persephone; below horses, serpent right and overturned flower basket. Johnston, Hierapolis 13; RPC VI Online 5429.6 (this coin). Brown patina, roughness, some smoothing. Near VF. Very rare.

Ex Numismatik Naumann 85 (5 January 2020), lot 318 (conserved since resulting in some smoothing); J.P. Righetti Collection, no. 362.

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 stated that 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.

Closing Date and Time: 20 March 2024 at 11:49:20 ET.

All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.