LESBOS. Mytilene (?). Circa 521-478 BC. Diobol (Silver, 10 mm, 1.22 g, 9 h). Forepart of a winged boar to right. Rev. Incuse forepart of a man-headed bull to right. Cf. CNG E-Auction 320 (2014), 133 (incuse helmet on the reverse). SNG Copenhagen -. SNG Kayhan -. SNG von Aulock -. Apparently unpublished. A sharply struck and very unusual piece. About extremely fine.


The exact origin of these extremely rare and unusual silver coins is uncertain, but a convincing argument can be made that they originate from Lesbos, where the winged boar is common on hektai from Mytilene. The reverse, which is known as a convex obverse type accompanied by a seal on Phokaian hektai, is unattested on Lesbian electrum, but the incuse animal motive with a rectangular incuse behind is typical for the early coinage of the island.