JUDAEA, Bar Kochba Revolt. 132-135 CE. AR Zuz (19mm, 3.41 g, 1h). Undated, but struck year 3 (134/5 CE). “Simon” in two lines within a wreath of thin branches wrapped around eight almonds; medallion at top of wreath, tendrils at bottom / “For the freedom of Jersualem,” laurel branch. Meshorer 91 (O15/R60); Meshorer 279c; Hendin 1417. EF, toned. Overstruck on a Bostra drachm of Trajan, with a portion of the Greek obverse legend and top of the emperor’s forehead visible to the right of the top of the laurel branch.
It is fortuitous that this portion of the undertype’s obverse legend (“APICTω”) is visible, as it allows us to not only pinpoint the type as a Bostra drachm of Trajan, but to further conclude that it can only be a “Bactrian camel” type struck between 114 and 116 (see Metcalf, Tel Kalak 18-19, 21).
