Mytilene (BC 377-326) EL Hekte - B90 type 6

ca 377-326 BC. EL Hekte (2.53g, 10mm). Wreathed head of young Dionysos right/ Facing large head of satyr with small ‘animal ears’, shaggy hair, close cropped beard and moustache, furrowed brow, ivy leaf top right in field, all within linear square. EF. Carr coll.

Bodenstedt notes 16 obv. and 25 rev. dies. His reverse die varieties can be simplified to small variations of 3 different head types and 4 “motifs” that 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 (as in this example). The 4 “motifs” are additions in the field: an 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.

These 7 simplified reverse varieties/types for Bodenstedt 90 have been described elsewhere on this website (see Coin ID #11346). Second known from auction.