JUDAEA, Bar Kokhba War. 132-136 CE. Zuz = Denarius (Silver, 20 mm, 3.27 g, 1 h), regular coinage. Uncertain mint. Hybrid issue, undated, struck early in Year 2 = 133/4 CE. 𐤔𐤌𐤏 (‘Šimʿon’, abbreviated, 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. 𐤀𐤋𐤏𐤆𐤓 𐤄𐤊𐤅𐤄𐤍 ('Eleazar the Priest' in Paleo-Hebrew) One-handled jug with fluted body to right; to right, palm frond. Bromberg I 127 (same dies). Hendin 6413 (same obverse die). Meshorer, AJC, 17a (same obverse die). Mildenberg 4.3 (this coin, O3/R2). Samel 2396 (same obverse die). Shoshana I 20249 (same dies). Sofaer 36 (same obverse die). Rare. Beautifully toned and with an excellent pedigree. Overstruck on a denarius of Vespasian. Traces of overstriking and somewhat brushed, otherwise, good very fine.



As correctly recognized in Leu 86, this zuz was overstruck on a Flavian denarius: the nose and mouth visible to the left of the jug clearly show the features of Vespasian or Titus. The exact identification of the undertype is complicated by the fact that almost nothing of its reverse survives on the obverse of the zuz. At 12-1 o’clock, however, a slightly curved line can be discerned, probably representing the handle and neck of a simpulum, as depicted on denarii of Vespasian together with a sprinkler, jug, and lituus. The undertype can therefore be attributed to Vespasian and dated to 71-73 CE.