The New York Sale
Auction 39 10 January 2017
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ANCIENT JEWISH COINS, BAR KOKHBA, Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (2.71 g), 132-135 CE. Hybrid year 1, year 2 (132/3-133/4 CE). 'Sma' (Paleo-Hebrew) within wreath of thin branches wrapped around eight almonds, with a medallion at top and tendrils at bottom. Rev. 'Eleazar the priest' (Paleo-Hebrew), fluted jug with handle on left; in right field, palm branch. (Mildenberg 3 (O3/R1); TJC 235; Hendin 1384). Magnificent quality, one of the finest known. Delicately toned. Superb extremely fine.
ex Superior (9-10 December 1994), lot 822.
This and the following three hybrid zuzim mule two obverse dies of different years of the Bar Kochba War. The wreathed obverse die with the abbreviated name of Simon bar Kochba belongs to the second year (132/3 CE) while the jug obverse die belongs to the first year and names Eleazar the priest. It has been suggested that Simon's name is abbreviated here (and on other coins) in such a way that it could also be read as the word shema ("hear"), the first word in Deuteronomy 6: 4 ("Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord is One.") which is the centerpiece of morning and evening Jewish prayer known as the Shema Yisrael and the most important prayer in Judaism. Literature suggests that the Shema prayer served as a rallying cry for the Bar Kochba rebels.
Estimate: $ 4,000
ex Superior (9-10 December 1994), lot 822.
This and the following three hybrid zuzim mule two obverse dies of different years of the Bar Kochba War. The wreathed obverse die with the abbreviated name of Simon bar Kochba belongs to the second year (132/3 CE) while the jug obverse die belongs to the first year and names Eleazar the priest. It has been suggested that Simon's name is abbreviated here (and on other coins) in such a way that it could also be read as the word shema ("hear"), the first word in Deuteronomy 6: 4 ("Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord is One.") which is the centerpiece of morning and evening Jewish prayer known as the Shema Yisrael and the most important prayer in Judaism. Literature suggests that the Shema prayer served as a rallying cry for the Bar Kochba rebels.
Estimate: $ 4,000