JUDAEA, Bar Kokhba War. 132-136 CE. Zuz = Denarius (Silver, 18 mm, 3.27 g, 6 h), regular coinage. Uncertain mint. Hybrid issue, dually dated Year 1 = 132/3 and Year 2 = 133/4 CE. 𐤔𐤍𐤕 𐤀𐤇𐤕 𐤋𐤂𐤀𐤋𐤕 𐤉𐤔𐤓𐤀𐤋 ('Year 1 of the Redemption of Israel' in Paleo-Hebrew) Grape bunch on vine with small leaf to left. Rev. 𐤔𐤁 𐤋𐤇𐤓 𐤉𐤔𐤓𐤀𐤋 ('Year 2 of the Freedom of Israel' in Paleo-Hebrew) Palm frond curving to left. Bromberg I 130 (same dies). Hendin 6411 (same dies). Meshorer, AJC, 20 (same dies). Mildenberg 10.14 (this coin, O2/R8). Samel 2397 (same dies). Shoshana I 20245 (same dies). Sofaer -. A very rare dually dated issue, and with a fine pedigree. Overstruck on an Arabian drachm of Trajan. Light traces of overstriking, otherwise, about extremely fine.



Identifying the undertypes of Jewish zuzim varies considerably in difficulty. In some cases, the undertype is readily apparent; at times, not only the imperial portraits but even almost complete legends remain visible. Other coins were overstruck much more carefully, leaving no visible trace of the original coin. In most cases, the difficulty of identifying the undertype falls somewhere between these two extremes, ranging from relatively straightforward to virtually impossible.

The present piece lies toward the more difficult end of the spectrum. On the obverse, part of a head outline can still be made out, most plausibly that of Trajan, although it is only faintly visible. At first glance, the reverse reveals almost nothing. Only on closer examination does an irregularity at 2-4 o’clock reveal the contours of the undertype. With the coin rotated slightly, these can be recognized as the arm of Arabia on RPC III 4073, dated to 112 CE, holding a bundle of cinnamon sticks. This identification neatly resolves the question of the undertype.