Half Shekel of Tyre HS49KP Type Melqart

Half Shekel of Tyre HS49KP Type Melqart

Silver half shekel, AR Half-Tetradrachm, Jerusalem mint, ; obverse laureate head of Melqarth right, reverse eagle standing left, right foot on ship's ram, palm frond behind, uncertain date over club left. 5.9g 19mm The half shekel was the annual temple tax per male at the Jerusalem Temple. The 1/2 shekel and shekel were the only coins accepted by the temple. After the silver purity of the coinage of Tyre was debased under Roman control, Herod the Great began to strike `Tyre` shekels in Jerusalem. These coins were of cruder fabric and style, but maintained the silver purity required to pay the temple tax. The `Jerusalem` shekels have the letters KP or KAP to the right of the eagle and dates range from PH (18/17 B.C.) to PKE (69/70 A.D.). Hendin 920

Manufacturer: N/A
SKU:	HS49KP
Unit:	Ea