Lot 3133
The Bar Kokhba War, 132-135 CE. AR Denar (or Zuz; 3.28 g) dated Year 2 (133-134 CE). Triform bunch of grapes with vine leaf hanging from a cut branch; around, Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Shim'on". Reverse: Upright palm branch; around, Palaeo-Hebrew inscription "Year 2 of the Freedom of Israel". Mild 40 [60 examples cited]; cf. H-1394, 1395? but reverse palm branch, not jug. Uncleaned. Very Fine to Extremely Fine.
About sixty years after the stronghold at Masada was defeated, the oppressed Jews fought for their human rights and religious beliefs once again. While the tradition of using Palaeo-Hebrew inscriptions was kept, all silver coins were overstruck on the Roman denarii and Roman provincial drachms and tetradrachms then in circulation. During the Bar Kokhba War, there was a greater supply of silver inherent in the circulating Roman coins which the Jews utilized. All Bar Kokhba bronze coinage was overstruck on existing bronze coins as well. The bronze flans in shortest supply were Roman sestertii and large-module city coins, such as from Gaza and other Roman provincial cities. The rare inscription/amphora emissions gradually became thinner and of smaller diameter with the passing years. Imagine the pride and attitude the Jewish minters must have had, overstriking the hated emperors and pagan deities with their own religious types and slogans of freedom!
Estimated Value $400 - 500.
Harold Chopp Collection.
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| Realized $719 |
