LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 450-400 BC. AR Trihemiobol (9mm, 0.95 g, 6h).

Electronic Auction 473
Lot: 94. Estimated: $ 200

Greek, Silver

Sold For $ 1 700. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 450-400 BC. AR Trihemiobol (9mm, 0.95 g, 6h). Head of female (Sappho?) facing slightly left, hair in band / Head of lion left within incuse square. SNG Arikantürk 747–8; HGC 6, 1038. Toned, granular surfaces. VF. Rare.

Ex Numismatik Naumann 59 (5 November 2017), lot 115.

Sappho was a famed poet of the archaic period from Mytilene, and she was well known by the time this issue was struck at the city. Although an attribution of the portrait to her is conjectural, the portrait here is similar to that of Sappho on some ancient vases, such as the kalpis by the “Sappho Painter” in the Warsaw museum (ID: 142333 MNW).

Closing Date and Time: 29 July 2020 at 10:31:00 ET.

All winning bids are subject to an 18% buyer’s fee.