Triton XIX, Lot: 177. Estimate $500. Sold for $800. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 521-478 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10.5mm, 2.52 g, 9h). Forepart of a bridled horse right; ΛE below / Incuse head of roaring lion right; rectangular punch behind. Bodenstedt Em. 20; HGC 6, 946; SNG von Aulock –; Boston MFA –; BMC –; Traité II 2148; Weber 5602. VF, obverse slightly off center. Very rare, only three examples recorded by Bodenstedt, 4 in CoinArchives.

This is an extremely rare variety of this emission that has the first letters of the ethnic of Lesbos, which is also present on some other early issues of this mint.