JUDAEA, Bar Kokhba War. 132-136 CE. Sela = Tetradrachm (Silver, 26 mm, 13.59 g, 12 h), regular coinage. Uncertain mint. Hybrid issue, but dated to Year 2 = 133/4 CE. 𐤉𐤓𐤅𐤔𐤋𐤌 ('Jerusalem' in Paleo-Hebrew) Tetrastyle façade of the Temple of Jerusalem with fluted columns; within, the Ark of the Covenant in chest form with semicircular lid and short legs. Rev. 𐤔𐤁 𐤋𐤇𐤓 𐤉𐤔𐤓𐤀𐤋 ('Year 2 of the Freedom of Israel' in Paleo-Hebrew) Lulav with three projecting tips; to left, etrog. Bromberg I 80 (same obverse die). Hendin 6414 (same obverse die). Meshorer, AJC, 12 (same obverse die). Mildenberg 8 (O1/R7). Samel 2399 (same obverse die). Shoshana I 20255 (same dies). SNG ANS 517 (same dies). Sofaer 29 (same obverse die). A very rare die combination, Mildenberg recorded just two examples. Lightly toned and very well centered on a full flan. Minor areas of weakness and with very light doubling on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.



Although this sela and lot 251 below bear only the date 'Year 2', both can nevertheless be identified as hybrid issues: their obverses were struck from die R1, the first obverse die in the series, which had already been introduced in Year 1, whereas their reverse dies belong to Year 2. Both specimens must therefore date to the opening phase of the Year 2 coinage. For double-dated zuzim, see 259-261.