Triton XX, Lot: 265. Estimate $1000. Sold for $900. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 377-326 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.55 g, 1h). Head of female (Leda?) right / Head of Nike right, hair bound by band; N-I-K-A around; all in linear square within incuse square. Bodenstedt – (but see em. 82.1 for same obverse die); S. Hurter, “Die Nike von Mytilene: Eine anonyme Siegesprägung,” SM 202 (June 2001), pp. 21–2 = Leu 83, lot 801 (same obv. die). Good VF, compact flan. Extremely rare, one of four known, the other three in CoinArchives.

This issue is one of the very rare examples of a legend appearing on one of the many electrum issues of Mytilene, and it is even more exceptional in that it is not an ethnic, but an identifier of the figure depicted on the coin. As Hurter noted in her article publishing this type that was unknown to Bodenstedt, it certainly commemorates a specific, yet unknown, event, though it was likely a victory that was local in nature.