Nysa (AD 117-138) Cistophoric Tetradrachm - Hadrian

Hadrian, 117-138 AD. AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm (11.12g, 12h), struck after 128 AD. Bare head right / Hades dragging away protesting Persephone in quadriga right; overturned basket of flowers below; above, Eros flying right, holding wedding torch. VF. Overstruck on a cistophorus of Augustus. Unique variety with Eros. This unique example depicts a winged figure holding the wedding torch, or taeda, above the horses. This is Hymenaeus, one of the erotes and the personification of the Hymenaea, or wedding song sung outside the bridal chamber. Metcalf's attribution to this mint is based on the regional association of this reverse type.