CNG 85, Lot: 411. Estimate $500. Sold for $2100. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 454-428/7 BC. EL Hekte (10mm, 2.44 g, 2h). Young female head right / Facing head of lion (or wolf) in incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 48 (obv. die b/rev. die α of em. 47); SNG von Aulock 7728; cf. Traité II, 2172, pl. CLX, 6 (same rev. die). VF, light scrape on cheek. Extremely rare, only three examples listed by Bodenstedt.

In Bodenstedt, illustration of reverse die β emission 48 is unclear, but the reverse on this coin is a die match with reverse die α from the previous emission. As Bodenstedt does not equate these reverse dies as being the same, this coin probably does not have reverse die β for its emission.