LESBOS. Mytilene. Circa 454-428/7 BC. Hekte (Electrum, 10 mm, 2.56 g, 7 h). Helmeted head of Athena to right. Rev. Two confronted female heads, their faces overlapping, within incuse square. Bodenstedt 55. SNG Copenhagen -. SNG von Aulock -. Very rare and interesting. Minor die rust and scratches on the obverse and the revere struck slightly off center, otherwise, very fine.


The overlapping faces on the reverse of this coin confuse our eyes by creating a highly interesting optical illusion. As such, the type is unique in all of ancient coinage and of great interest to art historians.