Phoenicia, Tyre Shekel

AR Tetradrachm/Shekel.

Laureate bust of Melkart right, aegis draped about neck

ΤΥΡΟΥ ΙΕΡΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΣΥΛΟΥ (of Tyre the holy and inviolable)
Eagle standing left on prow; club before, flanked by date PM and KP to right, above monogram.

KP Jerusalem mint
PM Year 140 (14/15 CE).

Ex Calgary Coins, Ex. Hendin 919, RPC 4655.

13.29g


At the Great Temple in Jerusalem the annual tax levied was 1/2 shekel per male. The 1/2 shekel and shekel were the only coins accepted by the temple. Some experts believe that after 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.). The Greek letters KP or KAP are probably an abbreviation for KAICAP, Greek for Caesar.