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117
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (3.31 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). ‘Simon’ (Paleo-Hebrew)
within wreath of thin branches wrapped around eight almonds, with a medallion at top and tendrils at
bottom. Rev. ‘Year two of the freedom of Israel’ (Paleo-Hebrew), upright palm branch. (Mildenberg 59.15
(O14/R29’; this coin); TJC 246; Hendin 1401). Attractively toned. Extremely fine.
$ 1,000
ex Abraham Bromberg Collection, Part I (5 December 1991), lot 152
ex El Fawar Hoard.
The popular wreathed paleo-Hebrew legend naming Simon [bar Kochba] and palm branch types also appear on this zuz of the
second year (133/4 CE) of the Bar Kochba War, but the treatment of the five-letter obverse legend is different here. This particular
coin is notable as being the coin (Mildenberg chose to illustrate the dies.
118
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (3.40 g), 132-135 CE. Year 2 (133/4 CE). ‘Simon’ (Paleo-Hebrew)
within wreath of thin branches wrapped around eight almonds, with a medallion at top and tendrils at
bottom. Rev. ‘Year two of the freedom of Israel’ (Paleo-Hebrew), elongated lyre with three strings.
(Mildenberg
57
(O14/R27);
TJC
241a;
Hendin
1403).
Delicately
toned.
Superb extremely fine.
$ 1,000
Purchased privately from Superior at the NYINC, December 1989.
This zuz of the second year (133/4 CE) of the Bar Kochba War features a wreathed paleo-Hebrew legend naming Simon [bar
Kochba] on the obverse and a palm branch on the reverse. This type combination was probably meant to simultaneously advertise
the hoped for victory over the Romans that was gradually slipping away while shoring up Simon bar Kochba’s legitimacy. Similar
wreathed inscriptions and palm branches had previously graced the coins of the Hasmonaean High Priest John Hyrcanus I (14-104
BCE) after he claimed autonomy from the Seleukid kingdom.