Judaea: JUDAEA. Jewish War (AD 66-70). AR half-shekel (18mm, 6.23 gm, 12h). NGC Choice XF 4/5 - 4/5....

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Year Two Half-Shekel

JUDAEA. Jewish War (AD 66-70). AR half-shekel (18mm, 6.23 gm, 12h). NGC Choice XF 4/5 - 4/5. Jerusalem, dated Year 2 (April AD 67-March AD 68). Half of a shekel (Paleo-Hebrew), ritual chalice with pearled rim, base resting on two raised projections; Year Two above / Jerusalem the holy (Paleo-Hebrew), staff with three pomegranate buds and globular base. GBC 6, 6388. A lovely anthracite flan with frosty toning around the elements, rendering every feature in sharp relief.

In the first century AD, all Jewish men were required to pay a yearly Temple tribute of one Tyrian half-shekel. This tribute was used for the expenditures of the Beit Hamikddash, or Holy Temple, such as paying workers and artisans, as well as acquiring objects and animals for sacrifices. However, a few years prior to the Jewish war, the Tyrian shekels and half-shekels were no longer minted, and the Jewish people needed to have more silver coins in circulation. So, for the first time in history, the Jewish people struck their own silver coins, something they were not allowed to do under the control of the Seleucid Kingdom and Roman Empire. These coins included carefully selected Hebrew slogans and Jewish imagery so that they could be used by any of the Jewish political factions. Despite being required to pay the tribute with half-shekels, there are significantly fewer surviving half-shekels than shekels. When looking at the rarity of Year Two half-shekels, there are around 124 known examples, a fourth of the number of shekels for the same year. This coin differs from the Year One shekel, with its extravagant pearl-rimmed chalice and hammered edge.

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