Asia Minor Coins - Photo Gallery

Ancient Greek and Roman coins from Asia Minor


Coin ID #6872

Mytilene (BC 412-378) EL Hekte - B68

ca 430-400 BC. EL Hekte (2.56g). Female head facing right, wearing hair-net / Beardless head with grotesque features facing left, wearing a modius-like object at forehead, the hair covered by net; thin square frame, all in incuse square. About EF/VF.

Bodenstedt interpreted the male head on the reverse as a Daktylos or Telchine, both from mythical bands of miners and blacksmiths, sometimes described as having a sinister character. (A common feature of mythical blacksmiths - Hephaestus is the exception, but he was physically handicapped instead). The object at the forehead could be something like a miner's lamp, but this is by no means confirmed.

File information
Filename:image00147.jpg
City/Mint name:Mytilene EL
Rating (1 votes):00000
Keywords:electrum / classical
References:Bodenstedt 68 (a/α); Boston 1697 (same dies)
Valuation:Gemini Auc. VI (1/2010), lot 147 ($2,200 + comm)
Photo courtesy of:Gemini, LLC - www.geminiauction.com
Filesize:85 KiB
Date added:Feb 26, 2010
Dimensions:600 x 300 pixels
Displayed:905 times
URL:http://www.asiaminorcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=6872
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