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161
Lesbos, Mytilene. Electrum Hekte (2.54 g), ca. 478-455 BC. Helmeted head of Athena right. Rev. Incuse
lion head facing. Bodenstedt 30; HGC 6, 957.
Rare.
Well centered on both side. Very Fine.
$500
From the Dionysus Collection.
162
Lesbos, Mytilene. Electrum Hekte (2.53 g), ca. 454-428/7 BC. Bearded head of Silenos right. Rev. Head
of lion facing within incuse square. Bodenstedt 47; HGC 6, 973. Fine Style Portrait.
Very Rare.
Boldly
struck in high relief and well centered. Toned. Nearly Extremely Fine.
$1,000
From the Dionysus Collection.
Silenos, a minor rustic wine deity closely connected to Dionysos, appears with some frequency on the coins of Mytilene as a
reference to wine production on Lesbos. In antiquity the island was famous for its Pramnian wine. Homer refers to this vintage
in the Odyssey and another tradition held that a brother of Sappho, the famous lyric poet of Mytilene, was an exporter of
Lesbian wine to Egypt.
163
Lesbos, Mytilene. Electrum Hekte (2.53 g), ca. 454-428/7 BC. Diademed head of Silenos right. Rev. Two
ram heads butting each other; palmette above; all in incuse square. Bodenstedt 37; HGC 6, 963.
Rare
.
Boldly struck, lightly toned, and well centered. Fine style depection of Silenos.
Nearly Extremely Fine.
$800
From the Dionysus Collection.
164
Lesbos, Mytilene. Electrum Hekte (2.52 g), ca. 454-428/7 BC. Forepart of goat
right, head reverted. Rev. Owl standing facing, wings spread, within incuse square.
Bodenstedt 42; HGC 6, 968. Fine style and perfectly centered, thus quite rare.
Interesting reverse resembling the Athenian decadrachm. Choice Very Fine.
$750
From the Dionysus Collection.
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