Maionia (AD 161-180) AE 35 - Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius, 161-180 AD. AE35 (24.70g), struck under archon Quintus. AVT KAIC - ANTÎ©NEINOC AVP, laureate bust right / EÎ I KVEINTOV B APX A MAIONIÎ©N, Hades with blowing clothes in galloping quadriga right, head left, holding scepter and reins, clasping struggling Persephone waving arms in distress; her flower basket below horses, flying Eros above. Rare, about VF, two flan cracks. Hoeft coll.; ex Burnstein coll.

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 a downright refusal, but knew also that Demeter would not forgive him if Persephone were committed to the underworld. Zeus "therefore answered politically 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 in his horse-drawn chariot to the underworld.

File information
Filename:	maionia_marc_aurelius_SNGaulock3018.jpg
City/Mint name:	Maionia
Keywords:	bronze / roman
References:	SNG von Aulock 3018
Valuation:	$350, Frank L. Kovacs; ex Auktion Peus #366 (2000)
Photo courtesy of:	Frank L. Kovacs - www.vcoins.com/ancient/frankkovacs
Filesize:	45 KiB
Date added:	May 18, 2009
Dimensions:	662 x 334 pixels
Displayed:	438 times
URL:	http://www.asiaminorcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=5915
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