Hebrew legend "Shenath Shalosh" (Year Three) around amphora with wide rim and lid and two handles / Hebrew legend "Cheruth Zion" (Freedom of Zion) around vine leaf with small branch and tendril. 18mm, 2.24 grams. Hendin (old) 664; Hendin (2010), 1363.

Poorly struck irregular issue, on a crudely prepared oversized flan. Less common than the second year issue; the ratio is estimated to be be roughly 1 to 8, a significantly reduced production.

After 60 years of rule by Roman procurators, the Jews rebelled against the might of Rome, and (amazingly) inflicted a number of defeats on Romans. However, as soon as the Civil Wars in Rome ended, the Jewish revolt was quelled. The Second Temple was burned down, the siege of Massada ended in a bloody mass suicide as the Jews were scattered. The prutah offered below was minted by rebels - they are dated and bear a Hebrew inscriptions "freedom of Zion" and were found during the excavation of Massada, thus being known as "Massada Prutahs"