Triton XIX, Lot: 202. Estimate $2000. Sold for $2500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 412-378 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.56 g, 12h). Head of Apollo facing slightly right, wearing laurel wreath / Head of Amazon right, wearing helmet, in linear square within incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 64; HGC 6, 990; SNG von Aulock –; Boston MFA –; BMC 94. Good VF, lightly toned, fine style, die break on reverse. Very rare, only four noted by Bodenstedt, six in CoinArchives.

Parallels have been drawn between the obverse of this type with the facing head Apollo on the famous 'Parthenon Group' tetradrachms of Amphipolis. As the present coinage was struck decades prior to that of Amphipolis, one wonders whether this issue of Mytilene influenced the masterful artists of the Macedonian city.