Two Extremely Rare Issues With Chalkidian Helmet

CNG 105, Lot: 269. Estimate $750. Sold for $3000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 454-428/7 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10.5mm, 2.52 g, 5h). Head of Athena right, wearing Chalkidian helmet / Two confronted female heads, their faces overlapping, within incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 55 var. (Corinthian helmet); HGC 6, 981 var. (same); NAC 78, lot 1471 (same dies); cf. Gemini IX, lot 111 (same obv. die, different rev. type). VF. Well centered. Extremely rare variety, only the NAC piece published (in Good VF, but off center, hammer 3500 CHF).

The Athena on Bodenstedt’s emission 55 is depicted in the usual manner, wearing a Corinthian helmet tilted back on her head. This coin clearly shows her wearing a Chalkidian helmet. This helmet it thought to be a derivative of the Corinthian helmet, and became popular in the 5th-4th centuries BC. It was lighter than the Corinthian helmet, and afforded its wearer better visibility and hearing while worn.

Struck from the same obverse die as the following lot, but with a different reverse type.