JUDAEA, Bar Kokhba War. 132-136 CE. Zuz = Denarius (Silver, 19 mm, 3.35 g, 12 h), regular coinage. Uncertain mint. Undated, but attributed to Year 3 = 134/5 CE. 𐤔𐤌𐤍𐤏𐤅 ('Šimna' (sic!) in Paleo-Hebrew) within a wreath composed of branches and eight almonds, tied with a medallion at the top and tendrils at the bottom. Rev. 𐤋𐤇𐤓𐤅𐤕 𐤉𐤓𐤅𐤔𐤋𐤌 ('For the Freedom of Jerusalem' in Paleo-Hebrew) One-handled jug with fluted body to right; to right, palm frond. Bromberg I 163 (same dies). Hendin 6449. Meshorer, AJC, 66a (same dies). Mildenberg 85.15 (O15/R52). Samel 2463 (same obverse die). Shoshana I 20398 (same dies). Sofaer 118 (same obverse die). Beautifully toned, with an excellent pedigree stretching back more than a century. Overstruck on a Roman denarius or drachm (of Trajan?). Faint marks and with very light traces of overstriking on the obverse, otherwise, good very fine.



Of the undertype on this attractive zuz from the Schonwalter and Pozzi collections, only the crown of the head and the end of the laurel wreath are visible at 12 o’clock on the obverse. The portrait is most likely that of Trajan, although it is difficult to determine whether the undertype was a drachm or a denarius.