ANCIENT JEWISH COINS, BAR KOKHBA, Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (3.45 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). 'Sma' (Paleo-Hebrew) within wreath of thin branches wrapped around eight almonds, with a medallion at top and tendrils at bottom. Rev. 'Year two of the freedom of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), two trumpets upright. (Mildenberg 24.6 (O5/R14; this coin); TJC 243; Hendin 1392). Wonderful broad flan. Traces of undertype visible on both obverse and reverse. Extremely fine.
ex Shoshana Collection, part 1 (Heritage, 8-9 March 2012), lot 20296
ex Abraham Bromberg Collection, part I (Superior, 5 December 1991), lot 136
ex El Fawar Hoard.
This specimen is the coin used to illustrate the type in (Mildenberg, zuz 24. It is clearly overstruck on a denarius of Hadrian. The zuzim of Bar Kokhba were commonly struck upon both denarii and provincial drachms of Trajan and Hadrian and less commonly on earlier coins from Mark Antony, Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, through the Flavians and up to Nerva, and a few Nabataean silver coins, were also used.
Estimate: $ 1,250