Lot 60
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Æ Medium Bronze (12.47 g), 132-135 CE. Year 1 (132/3 CE). 'Sma' (abbreviating Simon; Paleo-Hebrew), seven-branched palm tree with two bunches of dates. Rev. 'Year one of the redemption of Israel' (Paleo-Hebrew), vine leaf on tendril. (Mildenberg 167 (O6/R6); TJC 258; Hendin 1379a). Very rare - only 4 examples cited by Mildenberg. Brown patina with sandy highlights. Choice very fine. Estimate $1,000UP
Purchased privately from D. Hendin, July 1989.
This is a so-called irregular issue of the main year 1 middle bronze palm tree series. Like all of the irregular issues of the Bar Kokhba War (132-135 CE), it is distinguished by crude engraving and errors in the legends. These irregularities indicate either the use of unskilled die cutters at the Bar Kokhba mint(s) or that these particular issues were produced in haste and otherwise difficult circumstances. features an obverse legend that abbreviates the name of Simon bar Kokhba and his title as nasi (president) of Israel to the three letters SMA. It is the type common to year 2 medium bronzes, but here is paired with a reverse of year 1.
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| Realized $974 |
