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Bar Kochba, year 133 CE large bronze (GBC 704 - TJC 255)
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24 specimens listed (Mildenberg = 21)
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THE 3 BEST SPECIMENS
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1. H704 obverse dies
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Mild. O3: Five groups of three leaves on each branch of the wreath
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Mild. O5: Six groups of two leaves on each branch of the wreath
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Unrecorded: Crude and "cursive" style letters
About the previous specimen, Dr. Alan Walker (Leu Numismatics) wrote: "This is, unquestionably, one of the most exciting coins in this sale. It is the first known irregular large bronze and, as such, completes the series: irregular tetradrachms, denarii, medium and small bronzes have long been known (see Barag for a discussion of this coinage and its attribution to an official secondary mint located north of Jerusalem). That this coin is a product of the same mint that produced the other irregular Bar Kokhba issues is beyond doubt: while clearly based on the large bronze Mbg. 18, the lettering is more cursive, the wreath more schematic and the amphora rather more shakily engraved (see the preceding lot, a excellent example of Mbg. 18). These are just the characteristics we have come to expect from Bar Kokhba’s irregular coinage"
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2. H704 reverse dies
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Mild. R11
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Mild. R12
About the holed specimen, Mr. Goldberg wrote: "While perforated denars are occasionally seen, this rare large bronze denomination is unrecorded as a holed, ex ancient-jewelry piece. The Mildenberg reverse dies 4 and 12 are amongst the most beautiful and charismatic of all Bar Kochba coinage"
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Mild. Unrecorded: Crude and "cursive" style letters