JUDAEA, Bar Kokhba War. 132-136 CE. Zuz = Denarius (Silver, 18 mm, 3.22 g, 1 h), regular coinage. Uncertain mint. Undated, but attributed to Year 3 = 134/5 CE. 𐤔𐤌𐤏𐤅𐤍 ('Šimʿon' 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) Palm frond curving very slightly to right. Bromberg I 176 (same dies). Hendin 6452 (same dies). Meshorer, AJC, 62 (same dies). Mildenberg 122 (O18/R80). Samel 2470 (same dies). Shoshana II 20233 (same dies). Sofaer 132 (same dies). Beautifully toned and with an unusually sharply struck obverse. Overstruck on a drachm of Trajan from Bostra. Traces of overstriking, otherwise, extremely fine.



On the obverse, between 6 and 9 o’clock, traces of the characteristic Trajan portrait found on the drachms of Bostra (?) dated to 112 are visible (RPC III 4072-4075).