Description

Silver Tetradrachm Silver Coin Used in Jesus Time

The Sheqel of Tyre, minted in the Phoenician city of Tyre, now part of modern-day Lebanon, was distinguished by its high silver content, making it one of the most trusted and valuable coins in the ancient Mediterranean world. Its production began around 126 B.C. and continued for almost two centuries. The coin depicted on one side Melqart, the Tyrian Hercules, often associated with Hercules-Melqart, a deity revered in both Phoenician and Greek cultures. On the reverse, it featured an eagle and an inscription in Greek, attesting to its widespread acceptance and use beyond Phoenicia.

This coin’s acceptance as the preferred currency for the payment of the half-shekel temple tax, as prescribed in the Torah, underscores its significance. The high purity of the silver in the Sheqel of Tyre ensured that the religious tribute paid to the Temple was of the utmost quality, reflecting the solemnity and sacredness of the act. The temple tax was a yearly requirement for Jewish adult males, symbolizing atonement and contributing to the maintenance and operations of the Jerusalem Temple, a centerpiece of Jewish religious life.