CNG 91, Lot: 309. Estimate $5000. Sold for $7250. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of LYDIA. Alyattes. Circa 610-560 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (9mm, 2.34 g). Sardes mint. Confronted lion heads (only the left-facing visible); [W]ALWE[T] (in Lydian, retrograde) between / Two incuse square punches. Weidauer Group XVII, 106; Traité I 57; SNG Kayhan 1012 (one punch the same); SNG von Aulock –. Near EF. Very rare.

As with the trites (see previous lot), the hektes were also struck with dies that have two confronted lion heads, although the size of the flan only allowed one to be shown in full (cf. SNG Kayhan 1012 and Nomos 3, lot 144, both of which are on broad enough flans to see parts of the second head).