The Tyrian Shekel was a silver coin minted in the ancient city of Tyre, a Phoenician city along the Lebanese coast. Equal to the Greek Tetradrachm (also called “stater”), the Tyrian Shekel was reputed for its high-quality silver content and consistent weight of about 14-14.4 grams. This might also explain why despite bearing pagan imagery, the Tyrian shekel was also the only currency accepted for the Jewish Temple tax in Jerusalem (Misnha, Bechorot 50b). The biblical command was an annual pay of Half a shekel per person (Exodus 30:13) so the Tyrian Shekel was used for paying for two people.

Mentions of the Tyrian Shekel in the New Testament

Although the Tyrian shekel is not mentioned by its name in the New Testament, it is referred to several times in the scriptures. In Matthew 17:24-27 the Temple Tax collects demand for the annual tax pay of a “didrachm” (δίδραχμα), which is half of a Tyrian Shekel. Lacking any, Jesus orders Peter to catch a fish and open his mouth. Peter does so and finds a “stater” (στατῆρα) coin in his mouth.

Another reference to the Tyrian shekel appears when the chief priests bribe Judas Iscariot for the betrayal of Jesus (Matthew 26:15, 27:3-7). They provided him with “thirty pieces of Silver”, and although the denomination is not mentioned, the payment was probably made with Tyrian Shekels. Non-stamped pieces of silver were no longer a method of payment, yet Matthew uses the archaic term to match certain passages from the Old Testament (Exodus 21:32; Zechariah 11:12 ~ Matthew 27:9-10).

Tyrian Shekel of year “159” (32/33 CE)

While the Gospel texts don’t explicitly name the coin type, historical and archaeological evidence clearly show that the Tyrian Shekel was the standard silver coin used for Temple-related transactions during this period. Its minting began in the spring of 126 BCE, and is marked on each coin by Greek letters that are counted for their numerical value.

The Tyrian Shekels minted in the ΡΝΘ (“159”, 32/33 CE) are particularly significant, as they were minted in the year of the crucifixion of Jesus, and so these were likely the “thirty pieces of silver” mentioned in the Gospel accounts of Judas’s betrayal.

A rare Specimen available in Jerusalem

The specimen presented here surfaced in Israel’s antiquity market in 2024. Its place of find is unknown, but it is legally registered at “Zak Antiquities Shop” for sale. Its obverse shows the profile head of Melkart, the god of Tyre, appearing as Heracles, with a laurel wreath over his head. The Reverse features an eagle to the left, circled by the partially showing legend ΤΥΡΟΥ ΙΕΡΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΣΥΛΟΥ (“of Tyre the Holy [City] and [City] of Asylum”). The mint marks KP and ΛN as a monogram appear on the right. On the left, above a club, the letters ΡΝΘ indicate the year of its mint, 32/33 CE.

The coin is Fine condition. All its details are very clear, and it seems that it didn’t circle much in antiquity. It was also cleaned by a professional, leaving a bit of its original erosion layer. Such a coin in such a condition is truly exceptional. Holding it while visiting Zak, I was moved to think that this specific coin probably circulated in the markets of Jerusalem in the year Jesus Crucified. In fact, one cannot rule out that this was one of the coins used to pay Judas, and was later used again, to purchase a burial plot for foreigners outside Jerusalem (Matthew 27:6-8)

Some Final Thoughts

The Tyrian Shekel holds profound significance in both Jewish and Christian traditions. While it served as the official Temple tax currency in Jerusalem, it also features in the Gospel narrative as the likely “thirty pieces of silver” paid for Jesus’s betrayal. This dual religious significance makes it a powerful artifact connecting two faiths at a pivotal historical moment.

This coin might be sold any day, but if you happen to be in Jerusalem, give Zak a visit and ask if this coin can still be seen.