CNG 105, Lot: 270. Estimate $300. Sold for $525. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 454-428/7 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.54 g, 2h). Head of Athena right, wearing Chalkidian helmet / Confronted rams’ heads; palmette above; all within incuse square. Bodenstedt –, but cf. Em. 57, reverse die α; HGC 6, –; Gemini IX, lot 111 (same dies); cf. NAC 78, lot 1471 (same obv. die, different rev. type). Good VF, lightly toned, obverse off center and with spot of die rust, some die wear on reverse. Well centered. Extremely rare, only the Gemini piece published (of similar grade and strike, hammer $8000).

See previous lot, struck from the same obverse die, for a discussion of this unusual obverse type.