Jerusalem Mint

Obverse: Laureate bust of Herakles-Melqart facing right.

Reverse: Eagle standing on prow facing left, palm branch over right wing. Club and PI in left field, KP in right field. Phoenician letter between legs. TYPOY IEPASKAI ASYLOY.

Size: 20.0x 30.1 mm

Weight: 11.7 grams

The Tyre shekel was the coin that was used for temple taxes in Jerusalem during the time of Christ. Due to its graven images, it was seen as contradicting the First Commandment. It was for this reason that money changers could be found in the temple. It is their extortionist behavior which resulted in the passage found in Matthew 21:12-13 "And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said to them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but you have made it a den of thieves."