The New York Sale
Auction 39 10 January 2017
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ANCIENT JEWISH COINS, BAR KOKHBA, Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (2.88 g), 132-135 CE. Irregular issue. Undated, attributed to year 3 (134/5 CE). 'Sim' (Paleo-Hebrew) within wreath of thin branches wrapped around eight almonds, with a medallion at top and tendrils at bottom; pairs of dots between each section of wreath. Rev. 'For the freedom of Jerusalem' (Paleo-Hebrew), elongated lyre with three strings. (Mildenberg 234 (O31/R155); TJC 273; Hendin -, but cf. 1429 for the regular issue). Very rare - only six specimens cited by Mildenberg. Choice very fine.
Purchased privately, October 2006.
This coin was struck at a secondary mint rather than the main Bar Kokhba mint facility. The irregular mint(s) overstruck circulating coins in the same way as the primary mint. However, it issued many fewer coins. While their production values are about the same quality, they were struck from drastically inferior dies that often look almost like caricatures of the originals. While Bar Kokhba coins depict incomplete legends or abbreviations, the irregular coins have drastically crude, incomplete, or retrograde inscriptions due to the inexperienced workers who created the dies. The dies from the regular issue Bar Kokhba coins are never struck in combination with coins of the irregular facility (or facilities).
Estimate: $ 1,500
Purchased privately, October 2006.
This coin was struck at a secondary mint rather than the main Bar Kokhba mint facility. The irregular mint(s) overstruck circulating coins in the same way as the primary mint. However, it issued many fewer coins. While their production values are about the same quality, they were struck from drastically inferior dies that often look almost like caricatures of the originals. While Bar Kokhba coins depict incomplete legends or abbreviations, the irregular coins have drastically crude, incomplete, or retrograde inscriptions due to the inexperienced workers who created the dies. The dies from the regular issue Bar Kokhba coins are never struck in combination with coins of the irregular facility (or facilities).
Estimate: $ 1,500