Differentiating the Shekels
On the obverse of a few initial Year One shekels, a boarder of pearls immediately surrounds a chalice and the Hebrew letter 'aleph, an indication of first year minting. Outside the first ring of pearls, the words “Shekel of Israel” are spelled out in paleo-Hebrew script. Another boarder of dots surrounds these words. On the reverse of these coins, another small pearl boarder surrounds a branch with three pomegranates, with the inscription, “Holy Jerusalem” around the entire design. The outer rim is also ringed in pearls.7 (pp. 104-129)
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Subsequently, Year One coins were refined, and designers did away with the inner ring of pearls on both sides of the coin. This allowed the chalice and pomegranates to be made larger, with more detail and refinement. Most Year One coins are in this later design.
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By the second year, the designs were slightly altered. In addition to changing the date imprinted above the chalice, the letter shin was added as an abbreviation of the word “year”followed by a beth, indicating the number “two.” Furthermore, the chalices were given pearled rims, and the inscription on the reverse now read “Jerusalem the Holy” with the addition of a he' bethween the mem (the last letter of “Jerusalem”) and the and the qoph (the first letter of “Holy”).
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The moneyers created the Year Three coins in similar fashion to the design of Year Two, replacing only the letter for year two, beth, with a gimel for Year Three.
Photo Courtesy of Dr. Bruce Zuckerman
A similar change was made in the year four coins, exchanging a dalet (“four”) for the gimel.
Photo Courtesy of Paul Rynearson
Finally, Year Five coins have both a shin and a he', representing the fifth year.7 (pp. 104 - 129)
Photo Courtesy of Paul Rynearson