395, Lot: 134. Estimate $300. Sold for $750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 521-478 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.53 g, 12h). Head of ram left; below, cock standing right, pecking at the ground / Incuse head of lion right; rectangular punch to left. Cf. Bodenstedt Em. 21 (for obv.) / 2, 15, 16, 20, and 26 (for rev.); cf. HGC 6, 947/941 (for obv./rev.); CNG 97, lot 175 (same dies); Lanz 154, lot 163 (same dies); Lanz 146, lot 175 (same dies); Gemini X, lot 113 (same dies). VF, toned. Well centered for issue. Very rare.

At first glance, it appears that this coin is a hybrid of an obverse of Bodenstedt Em. 21 (ram’s head left with cock below) and the reverse of either Bodenstedt Em. 2, 15, 16, 20, or 26 (incuse lion’s head right). However, the reverse die used here does not match any of those published in Bodenstedt, but does match other hybrids found in CoinArchives (see above). The obverse die used here also does not match those of emission 21 published by Bodenstedt, but again, does match the other hybrids found in CoinArchives. Therefore, it is quite possible that these coins represent a different emission rather than a hybrid.