Mytilene (BC 377-326) EL Hekte - B-

ca 378-326 BC. EL Hekte (2.52g, 10mm). Female head (Leda?) right, hair rolled behind / Head of Nike right, hair bound with a taenia, [N]-I/K-A, all within linear square. VF. Carr coll. Ex Münzen and Medaillen Deutschland, Auc. 22 (2008), lot 928 (Schulte coll.); ex Karl coll.; ex Münzen and Medaillen Deutschland, Auc. 9 (2001), lot 254.

Only 3 examples known of this type. Obverse of all examples is die match with Bodenstedt 82 that he described as head of Leda. The obverse die for Bodenstedt 82 has a reverse of a swan and is only known by 2 specimens. The reverse of this coin is Nike. The inscription is not complete on any of the 3 examples known, but it is clear that the letters are N-I/K-A. Silvia Hurter, in her article on this specific example, notes that the inscription makes it clear that the reverse is Nike and it can be inferred that this coin was struck to commemorate a victory, but which is uncertain (see Die Nike von Mytilene: Eine anonyme Siegespragung, SM 202, June 2001, pp. 21-22).