Gold
Lot 2451 SESSION 12 (9.30AM THURSDAY 1ST AUG) Gold
Estimate $1,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
LESBOS, Mytilene, c.430 B.C., electrum hekte (2.53 g), Bodenstedt dates 454-428/7 B.C., obv. head of Aktaion with stag's ear and small horn to right, his hair falling on his shoulders in coarse locks, rev. Gorgon head facing within linear square, (cf.S.4246, Bodenstedt 54, SNG Von Aulock 1697, SNG Lockett 2760, SNG Fitz. 4348). Of the finest early Classical style, good very fine and very rare.
Ex Noble Numismatics Sale 79, lot 3226.^Aktaion had inadvertently seen Artemis bathing and she in her anger changed him into a stag and he was torn to pieces by her own dogs. This myth is popular in Greek vase painting but only found on coins from Kyzikos, Lampsakos and this hekte of Mytilene and in all cases for one issue only. On this piece the transformation from a youth to the stag is illustrated with the hair turning into a mane. Bodenstedt knew of only 38 pieces.
Estimate / sale price does not include buyer's premium (currently 22% including GST) which is added to hammer price. All bids are executed on the understanding that the Terms & Conditions of sale have been read and accepted. For information on grading and estimates please refer to the Buying at Auction advice.
Quick find
View a lot by number and sale.
Adjacent lots
Lot 2449
LESBOS, Mytilene, c. 521-478 B.C., electrum hekte, (2.52 g), obv. head of ram left, wearing ...
Estimate $1,000
Lot 2450
LESBOS, Mytilene, (454-427 B.C.), electrum hekte (2.51 g), obv. laureate head of Apollo to right, ...
Estimate $900
Lot 2451 This lot
LESBOS, Mytilene, c.430 B.C., electrum hekte (2.53 g), Bodenstedt dates 454-428/7 B.C., obv. head of ...
Estimate $1,500
Lot 2452
LESBOS, Mytilene, c.377-328 B.C., electrum hekte, (2.55 g), Bodenstedt dates 428 B.C., obv. laureate head ...
Estimate $800
Lot 2453
IONIA, uncertain (Phokaia?), (c.625-600 B.C.), electrum twenty-fourth stater (0.66 g) of the Milesian standard, geometric ...
Estimate $500