Lot 166
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (3.09 g), 132-135 CE. Undated, attributed to year 3 (134/5 CE). 'Simna' (Paleo-Hebrew) within wreath of thin branches wrapped around eight almonds, with a me-dallion between two pairs of dots at top and tendrils at bottom. Rev. 'For the freedom of Jerusalem' (Paleo Hebrew), upright palm branch. (Mildenberg 91 (O15/R60); TJC 279a; Hendin 1420). Scarce - only nine specimens cited by Mildenberg. Boldly struck and perfectly centered. Toned. Extremely fine. Estimate $800UP
Ex NFA XXV (29 November 1990), lot 275.
The odd arrangement of the paleo-Hebrew legend on the obverse of this and the following undated zuz attributed to the third year (134/5 CE) of the Bar Kochba War makes the name of rebel leader, Simon [bar Kochba], read as Simna. This and other errors in the legends that occur on Bar Kochba issues may imply that some (many?) engravers were merely copying the letters and may not have had the ability to actually read and understand them.
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| Realized $1,180 |
