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Very Rare Irregular Issue Bar Kokhba Silver Zuz
187
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (2.88 g), 132-135 CE. Irregular issue. Undated, attributed to year 3
(134/5 CE). ‘Sim’ (Paleo-Hebrew) within wreath of thin branches wrapped around eight almonds, with a
medallion at top and tendrils at bottom; pairs of dots between each section of wreath. Rev. ‘For the freedom
of Jerusalem’ (Paleo-Hebrew), elongated lyre with three strings. (Mildenberg 234 (O31/R155); TJC 273;
Hendin -, but cf. 1429 for the regular issue).
Very rare - only six specimens cited by Mildenberg.
Choice very fine.
$ 1,500
Purchased privately, October 2006.
This coin was struck at a secondary mint rather than the main Bar Kokhba mint facility. The irregular mint(s) overstruck circulating
coins in the same way as the primary mint. However, it issued many fewer coins. While their production values are about the same
quality, they were struck from drastically inferior dies that often look almost like caricatures of the originals. While Bar Kokhba
coins depict incomplete legends or abbreviations, the irregular coins have drastically crude, incomplete, or retrograde inscriptions
due to the inexperienced workers who created the dies. The dies from the regular issue Bar Kokhba coins are never struck in com-
bination with coins of the irregular facility (or facilities).
188
Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (3.10 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; pairs of dots between each section of wreath. Rev. ‘For the freedom of Jerusalem’
(Paleo-Hebrew), elongated lyre with three strings. (Mildenberg 119 (O18/R83); TJC 272c; Hendin 1429).
Extremely Rare - only one specimen cited by Mildenberg.
Light iridescent tone. Extremely fine.
$ 800
Purchased privately, August 2001.