Shekel
The shekel is one of the oldest known units of weight and coin denominations in the Middle East and occupies a prominent position in numismatic contexts. Originally used as a unit of weight for silver, the shekel later developed into an actual coin and served as an important means of payment for centuries in various cultures – especially in ancient Israel, the Phoenician region, Mesopotamia and Asia Minor.
The origin of the term ‘shekel’ (Hebrew: שֶׁקֶל, sheqel) derives from the Semitic root word for ‘to weigh’. This refers to the original use of the shekel as a unit of weight, which usually corresponded to about 11 to 14 grams of silver, although there were regional differences. As early as the 3rd millennium BC, pieces of silver were weighed by weight, long before coins were minted in the true sense of the word. In this context, the shekel was a standardised measure for barter.
With the introduction of coinage by the Lydians in the 7th century BC, the shekel also became widespread as a minted coin. Particularly well known are the Phoenician and Hebrew shekels, which were minted from the 5th century BC onwards in cities such as Tyre, Sidon and Jerusalem. The Tyrian shekel, a very fine silver coin weighing about 14 grams, is of particular importance, as according to historical consensus it was also used to pay the temple tax in the temple cult of Jerusalem. These coins are characterised by iconographic elements such as the depiction of the god Melkart (often identified with Heracles) and the sacred galley.
A particularly significant numismatic aspect of the shekel lies in its role at the time of the Jewish revolt against Rome (66–70 CE and 132–135 CE). During these uprisings, silver shekels and half-shekels were minted in Jerusalem, some with the inscription ‘Shekel Israel’ and symbols such as the jug and three pomegranates. These so-called ‘rebellion shekels’ are not only numismatically significant, but also historically important as a sign of the Jewish struggle for political and religious autonomy.
Today, the term ‘shekel’ has been revived in modern times: the New Israeli Shekel (NIS) is the official currency of Israel and deliberately bears this traditional name to establish a historical connection to the country’s monetary roots.
In a numismatic context, the shekel represents a fascinating link between an ancient unit of weight, a cult coin and a modern means of payment.
Research into ancient shekel coinage offers deep insights into religious, economic and political conditions in the Ancient Near East and the Mediterranean world. Collectors and historians value the shekel for its rarity, historical significance and symbolic power – a coin that not only enabled payments but also expressed identity and independence.