Description

The silver shekel coin of Tyre used for the Jerusalem Second Temple tax

The Silver Shekel of Tyre holds a unique place in both numismatic history and biblical lore.
This ancient coin, minted in the Phoenician city of Tyre.

This currency was the choice for the Temple tax in Jerusalem during the Second Temple period. The shekel’s significance is underscored by its frequent mention in the Bible, particularly in the context of religious obligations.
According to Exodus 30:13, every Israelite male over the age of twenty was required to pay a half-shekel as a ransom for his soul, a practice that continued into the New Testament era.

The Gospel of Matthew (17:24-27) recounts how Jesus instructed Peter to find a coin in a fish’s mouth to pay the Temple tax, highlighting the shekel’s enduring role in Jewish religious life.