JUDAEA, Bar Kokhba War. 132-136 CE. Zuz = Denarius (Silver, 19 mm, 3.32 g, 1 h), regular coinage. Uncertain mint, 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. 𐤔𐤁 𐤋𐤇𐤓 𐤉𐤔𐤓𐤀𐤋 ('Year 2 of the Freedom of Israel' in Paleo-Hebrew) Broad three-stringed chelys-lyre with four pellets on the soundbox. Bromberg II 445 (same dies). Hendin 6418 (same dies). Meshorer, AJC, 21 (same dies). Mildenberg 13.6 (this coin, O4/R6). Samel 2408 (same dies). Shoshana I 20284 (same dies). Sofaer 40 (same dies). Beautifully toned and with unusually clear traces of overstriking. An attractive piece with an excellent pedigree. Nearly extremely fine.



The present zuz was evidently struck over a denarius of Vespasian, the victor of the Jewish War: his distinctive physiognomy and remnants of the legend [...]P AVG P M [...] are clearly visible between 12 and 3 o’clock on the obverse. The style of the portrait points to an early issue of the Rome mint, while traces of a lituus can be discerned on the reverse at 7 o’clock. As the remaining space at the end of the obverse legend is sufficient to accommodate COS IIII, the undertype is very likely RIC 356, with simpulum, sprinkler, jug and lituus, struck in 72-73 CE.