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155
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (3.33 g), 132-135 CE. Undated, attributed to year 3 (134/5 CE).
‘Simon’ (Paleo-Hebrew) within wreath of thin branches wrapped around eight almonds, with a medallion
at top and tendrils at bottom. Rev. ‘For the freedom of Jerusalem’ (Paleo-Hebrew), upright palm branch.
(Mildenberg 62 (O14/R34); TJC 279c; Hendin 1416).
Scarce - only ten specimens cited by Mildenberg.
Per-
fectly struck and perfectly centered. Lightly toned. Extremely fine.
$ 700
Purchased privately, July 2005.
156
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (3.60 g), 132-135 CE. Undated, attributed to year 3 (134/5 CE).
‘Simon’ (Paleo-Hebrew) within wreath of thin branches wrapped around eight almonds, with a medallion
at top and tendrils at bottom. Rev. ‘For the freedom of Jerusalem’ (Paleo-Hebrew), upright palm branch.
(Mildenberg 66.1 (O14/R38; this coin); TJC 279c; Hendin 1416). Toned. Extremely fine.
$ 600
ex Abraham Bromberg Collection, part II (10 December 1992), lot 470
ex Leu 7 (9 May 1973), lot 292.
This and the following two undated silver zuzim attributed to the third year (135/4 CE) of the Bar Kochba War continue the
wreathed name of Simon [bar Kokhba] and palm branch types of the second year (133/4 CE) even though by this time the hope
of victory, as symbolized by the palm, was quickly slipping away as Roman forces massed against Judaea and prepared for the final
onslaught.
157
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (3.03 g), 132-135 CE. Undated, attributed to year 3 (134/5 CE).
‘Simon’ (Paleo-Hebrew) within wreath of thin branches wrapped around eight almonds, with a medallion
at top and tendrils at bottom. Rev. ‘For the freedom of Jerusalem’ (Paleo-Hebrew), fluted jug with handle
on left; in right field, willow branch. (Mildenberg 73 (O14/R45); TJC 283b; Hendin 1418). Boldly struck
and perfectly centered. Lightly toned. Superb extremely fine.
$ 700
Purchased privately from Superior, March 1989.
Zuz, the Hebrew name for the small silver issues that made up the bulk of the precious metal coinage produced by the Jewish rebels
in the third year (135/4 CE) of the Bar Kochba War, was only discovered in 1961, when a cache of documents was uncovered in a
cave complex in the Dead Sea area. This included letters, receipts, and other documents apparently hidden near the end of the war
and which referred to zuzim and sela’im with respect to a sale of land.