Mytilene (BC 377-326) EL Hekte - B90 type 1

ca 377-326 BC. EL Hekte (2.55g, 10mm, 1h). Wreathed head of young Dionysos right/ Facing bald head with long tousled beard swept back, smooth forehead, long pointed (animal?) ears upward, all within linear square. gVF. Carr coll.

Bodenstedt notes 16 obverse and 25 reverse die varieties. His reverse dies can be simplified to small variations of 3 different head types and 4 “motifs” that may occur in the field. The 3 different head types are: small bald head with long tousled beard swept back, smooth forehead, long pointed ears upward; larger head, shaggy hair and close cropped beard and moustache, small ‘animal ears’, furrowed or smooth brow; as previous type but shaggy hair. The 4 “motifs” are additions in the field: ivy leaf, upper right and sometimes lower left corners; grapes, lower left corner – Bodenstedt makes a distinction on basis of a stem being present; 8-armed/beamed star top right corner; and, 8-armed/beamed star top left corner. (see Coin ID #11346)