JUDAEA, Bar Kokhba War. 132-136 CE. Zuz = Denarius (Silver, 19 mm, 3.09 g, 1 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) Three-stringed kithara-lyre. Bromberg I 488 (same obverse die). Hendin 6446. Kaufman, Additions, 16 (same dies). Meshorer, AJC, 55a (same obverse die). Mildenberg - (O16/-). Samel 2424. Shoshana I 20412 (same obverse die). Sofaer 125 (same obverse die). Extremely rare, struck from a reverse die unknown to Mildenberg, and with an interesting overstrike on a drachm of Trajan. Minor roughness on the obverse and with traces of overstriking on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.



On the reverse of this zuz, the portrait of Trajan is clearly visible. Closer examination also reveals an Ⲱ above the emperor’s forehead. The undertype can therefore be identified as a drachm of Bostra (?), in Rome mint style, with a camel reverse: RPC III 4076 or 4081.