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175
Lesbos, Mytilene. Electrum Hekte (2.52 g), ca. 412-378 BC. Helmeted head of Ares right. Rev. Helmeted
head of Amazon right in linear border within incuse square. Bodenstedt 65; HGC 6, 991. Choice Very
Fine.
$350
176
Lesbos, Mytilene. Electrum Hekte (2.55g), ca. 377-325 BC. Laureate head of Apollo, right, small coiled
serpent behind. Rev.
Female head right, hair in sakkos within linear square. Bodebsteadt EM. 100b (un-
listed dies); SNG von Aulock 1715; SNG Copenhagen 317. Choice Very Fine.
$500
Ex: CNG 85, 15 Sept. 10, lot 413;
Ex: Leu 85, 6 May 2002, lot 302.
177
Lesbos, Mytilene. Electrum Hekte (2.56 g), ca. 377-326 BC. Wreathed head of Dionysos right. Rev. Head
of satyr facing within linear square. Bodenstedt 90; HGC 6, 1016.
Very Rare.
A magnificent example. Bold-
ly struck in high relief and perfectly centered.
Probably the finest known.
Nearly Mint State.
$2,500
From the Dionysus Collection.
Although electrum had been popular for the first coinages of western Asia Minor, it was quickly superseded in most plac-
es by parted gold and silver coinages already in the sixth century BC. However, a few cities, like Mytilene, Phokaia,
and Kyzikos continued to strike electrum into the fourth century BC, often in concert, as a means of providing an inter-
national trade coinage for the Black Sea region. The somewhat outmoded alloy remained in demand by the grain-pro-
ducers and mercenaries of the north long after it fell out of common use in mainland Greece and Asia Minor.
178
Lesbos, Mytilene. Electrum Hekte (2.54 g), ca. 377-326 BC. Head of Kabeiros right, wearing pileos; two
stars flanking. Rev. Head of Persephone right within linear square. Bodenstedt 99; HGC 6, 1025. Boldly
struck with lustrous surfaces and perfectly centered. Superb Extremely Fine.
$500
From the Dionysus Collection.
175
176