The Role of Coins in the First Revolt
Before the First Jewish Revolt, the Tyrian shekel—so called because it was originally minted in Tyre before 19 B.C.E.—was the only coin accepted as proper payment for the Jewish Temple tax, an annual half-shekel that every Israelite male over the age of twenty was required to pay.6 (pp. 54-57) In production since Greek rule before 126 B.C.E., the Tyrian tetradrachmas (coins weighing approximately half an ounce) remained the standard for this payment long after the Romans took over the land because the Roman coins, now imported from the Far East, contained only 80% silver and were, therefore, of poorer quality than their Tyrian counterparts (95% purity). Specifically for the reason that the new silver pieces were of too poor quality to satisfy the laws about the Temple tax, Jewish religious leaders requested and were granted permission to continue minting Tyrian shekels. The Jews used Roman coins in their everyday business, but the religious authorities demanded that Tyrian shekels only be used to pay the Temple tax.6 (pp. 54-57)
Tyrian Shekel, used to pay the Jewish Temple Tax |
A silver Roman coin |
http://www.jesuswalk.com/lessons/21_37-22_6.htm |
http://www.pomexport.com/C%20-%20Roman%20Silver_Caracalla/PCC%20-%20Roman%20Silver_Caracalla_4x.jpg |
However, when war broke out in Judea, the era of the Tyrian shekel met its end. After capturing Jerusalem in 66 C.E., Jewish leaders began minting their own currency as a statement of their independence from Rome and as an announcement of their goals.7 (pp. 104-131) No one is sure, however, of who actually minted the coins. Because the Jews were divided into warring factions, we cannot be sure if only one of these factions was responsible or if some more unified governing body serving a variety of interests was responsible.
In the first year, only silver coins were minted, struck from the Temple’s silver stores, intended to be nationalistic replacements for the Tyrian shekels. These silver pieces included shekels, half-shekels, and quarter-shekels, each labeled with the year of their creation and their denomination.7 (pp. 104-131)
Year 3 Shekel |
Year 3 Half-Shekel |
Year 1 Quarter-Shekel |
http://www.menorahcoinproject.com |
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Furthermore, the inscriptions on the new shekels resembled the inscriptions on the Tyrian pieces. While the reverse of the Tyrian shekels bore the words, “Tyre the Holy and City of Refuge,” the reverse of the Jewish shekels read, “Jerusalem the Holy.” Replacing the portrait of Hercules on the obverse of the Tyrian piece was a chalice and the words, “Shekel of Israel,” and replacing the eagle on the reverse of the Tyrian coin was a branch with three pomegranates.6 (pp. 54-57)
In following years, the Jews began minting bronze prutot (coins weighing about a thousandth of a pound) for everyday use because they were worth less than the shekels. Prutah is a Hebrew word found in the Mishna and Torah, meaning "a small coin" and originating from the feminine root, para, meaning "to break."12 These coins were the most commonly minted coin between the 1st century B.C.E. and the 5th century C.E.
The original design of the shekels was also refined. While the obverse of preliminary first year shekels contains a chalice and a ring of beads, the shekels of the latter part of the first year and those of the second year widen the ring and add a rim of pearls to the chalice. Each coin is dated in paleo-hebrew script, the letter shin (for Hebrew shanah) representing the word “year,” followed by a letter representing the year in which the coin was minted: ’aleph for “one”; beth for “two”; gimel for “three”; dalet for “four”; and he’ for “five."7 (pp. 104-131)
As the war dragged on through years four and five (69 to 71 C.E.), the weakening Jews began striking fewer coins. Because silver was becoming scarce, three denominations of bronze coins were minted to replace the shekels. With times growing increasingly dire, bronze had to serve as a substitute for silver for secular needs. However, in the fifth year, the last four months of the Jewish War, the only coins produced were silver shekels, and the striking of bronze coins ceased completely.7 (pp. 104-131)
One unique characteristic of Year Four coins was their inscripted denominations. In ancient times, it was not common practice to include denominations on coins because most people simply judged their value by their size. Apparently, because the bronze coins served as silver substitutes, the addition of “half” and “quarter” was necessary to denote their values relative to silver coinage, those designated "half" being equal to half-shekels, and "quarter" to quarter-shekels.7 (pp. 104-131)
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Three Bronze Revolt
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http://www.menorahcoinproject.com |
As the war progressed and conditions worsened, the slogans on the prutot changed from “Freedom of Zion” to “To the Redemption of Zion.” Some theorize that the Jewish realization of defeat spurred this alteration, for “freedom” calls for a physical state while “redemption” carries more spiritual connotations.4 (170-171)