The title compound, {[(C5H5)(9)Pb-4](-)[(C5H5)(5)Pb-2](-)[Li(12-crown-4)(2)](+)(2)} 1, is synthesised by the reaction of [(C5H5)(2)Pb] and [(C5H5)Li] and 12-crown-4 (3:1:2 equiv.), and is shown by X-ray diffraction to contain both a quintuple-decker and a triple-decker sandwich anion; in contrast, the corresponding reaction with [(C5H5)(2)Sn] (which possesses no such polymeric lattice of its own) in place of [(C5H5)(2)Pb](infinity) yields the simple 'paddlewheel' molecule {[(C5H5)(3)Sn](-)[Li(12-crown-4)(2)](+)} 2.