JUDAEA, Bar Kokhba War. 132-136 CE. Zuz = Denarius (Silver, 20 mm, 3.15 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) Broad three-stringed chelys-lyre . Bromberg II 444 (same dies). Hendin 6412 (same dies). Meshorer, AJC, 19 (same dies). Mildenberg 11 (O2/R7). Samel 2398 (same dies). Shoshana II 20150 (same dies). Sofaer 39 (same dies). A very rare hybrid issue, overstruck on a denarius of Hadrian. Traces of overstriking and areas of weakness, otherwise, very fine.



On the reverse of the present zuz, the nape and laurel ties of a Hadrianic portrait can be discerned when the coin is rotated 110° clockwise. Traces of the reverse type are faintly visible over the bunch of grapes when the coin is rotated 20° clockwise: a standing male figure holding a patera in his right hand, with drapery wrapped around his waist. The figure is probably the Genius of the Roman People, as depicted, for example, on RIC 532.