"Shekel of Israel"

 

Material- Silver

Denomination- Shekel

Size- 8/10 inch in diameter

 

 

General Information-

As this rare Year 5 coin shows, the Jewish rebels were still minting coins even at this late stage of the rebellion. Yigael Yadin, who excavated Masada in the 1960s, found 17 Revolt coins in one hoard, including three Year 5 coins (only six other Year 5 coins had been previously found). Yadin’s finds were the first Revolt coins to be discovered in a controlled archaeological excavation.

The Year 5 coin shown here depicts on its front a chalice with the words “Shekel of Israel” and the letters shin and heh, abbreviations for “Year 5.” On the reverse are pomegranates surrounded by the words “Jerusalem the Holy.”

“Spending Your Way Through Jewish History,” BAR May-Jun 2003.