CNG 96, Lot: 382. Estimate $750. Sold for $2750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

MYSIA, Kyzikos. Circa 550-500 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (9mm, 2.66 g). Mythological creature, with lion’s head and avian body, right; to right, tunny upward / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze I 22; Boston MFA –; SNG France –; SNG von Aulock 1172. VF. Extremely rare, none in CoinArchives (but cf. Lanz 149, lot 165 for a hemihekte).

Although this series is extremely rare, it is known in three denominations. Von Fritze attested to hektes and hemihektes, but recently a unique stater was added to the known pieces (Hurter & Liewald II 22). Interestingly, the sole example Greenwell found was of such poor quality that he misidentified the type as a crab and had the photograph oriented incorrectly (cf. Greenwell p. 122, 159, and pl. VI, 22).