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1078
Lesbos, Unattributed early mint. BI Stater (11.00 g), 5
th
century BC. Persic standard. Olive tree between
confronted cow heads. Rev. Small incuse square punch. (SNG von Aulock 1682; SNG Copenhagen 285;
HGC 6, 1076). Darkly toned. Very fine.
$ 1,900
The obverse type of this coin is perhaps the most celebrated and iconic of the early billon coinage series of Lesbos. The confronted
profile cow heads, when read as a composite image give the impression that a single facing head is depicted. This sort of type has
been described as an “elusive motif” and seems more familiar from artistic trends of the twentieth century than from the Archaic
period. In terms of design composition, this type was far ahead of its time.
1079
Lesbos, Mytilene. Electrum Hekte (2.52 g), ca. 412-378 BC. Head of Ares right, wearing crested helmet
decorated with forepart of griffin. Rev. Helmeted head of Amazon right in linear border within incuse
square. (Bodenstedt 65; SNG von Aulock -). Very fine.
$ 650
1080
Lesbos, Mytilene. Electrum Hekte (2.48 g), ca. 377-326 BC. Half length bust of Maenad right, hair bound
in sphendone. Rev. Race torch within linear incuse square in shallow incuse square. (Bodenstedt 92; SNG
Copenhagen 320). Extremely fine.
$ 800
Candidate for World’s Earliest Coin - Rare Ionia Striated Electrum Stater
1081
Ionia, Uncertain mint. Electrum Stater (14.23 g), ca. 650-600 BC. Lydo-Milesian standard. Flattened and
striated surfaces. Rev. Two rough incuse punches separated by a cleft. (cf. Weidauer 5 (trite); Traité I 16 =
BMC 1 (Miletos; stater)).
Extremely rare.
Choice very fine.
$ 7,500
The rare striated electrum coins may be included among some of the very earliest coins struck in Western Asia Minor. Since they
were included in the famous Artemision deposit near Ephesus they must have been produced shortly before ca. 650-625 BC when
the votive deposit was buried. Although the dating of the Artemision deposit has been controversial with proposed dates tending to
range from ca. 600 to as late as 560-546 BC, recent study of the architecture and pottery associated with the deposit has shown that
this early date in the third quarter of the seventh century BC is to be preferred.
1079
1080