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. 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 𐤉𐤓𐤅𐤔𐤋 ('For the Freedom of Jerusale' (sic!) in Paleo-Hebrew) Three-stringed kithara-lyre. Bromberg I 162 (same dies). Hendin -, cf. 6446 (same obverse die, but with full reverse legend). Meshorer, AJC, 55b. Mildenberg 84 (O14/R54). Samel -. Shoshana I 20393 (same dies). Sofaer 124 (same dies). Lightly toned and with an interesting reverse variety omitting the final letter of Jerusalem. The obverse a bit weak and with traces of overstriking, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.



Remarkably, this coin displays errors in both legends: on the obverse, the expected final sequence ʿayin-waw-nun in ŠMʿWN ('Šimʿon') is rendered as nun-ʿayin-waw, producing ŠMNʿW (see also lots 293-297 above and lots 299-308 below); on the reverse, the final mem of YRWŠLM ('Jerusalem') is omitted, leaving YRWŠL.