Judas Iscariot --- Tyrian shekels
Arizona Coin Collector
I was just writing here. All opinions welcome.
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Judas Iscariot was, according to the New Testament,
was one of the twelve original Apostles of Jesus.
Among the twelve, he was apparently designated to
keep account of the "money bag" but he is most
traditionally known for his role in Jesus' betrayal
into the hands of Roman authorities.
Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of
silver (coins). He accepted a bribe from the high
priest Caiaphas. He identify Jesus with "The
Kiss Of Judas". Before Jesus execution, Judas
returns the silver coins to the priests. Judas
Iscariot soon dies.
These silver coins are known as Tyrian shekels.
Tyrian shekels were coins of Tyre, which in the
Roman Empire took on an unusual role as the
medium of payment for the Temple tax in Jerusalem,
and subsequently gained notoriety as a likely
mode of payment for Judas Iscariot. The coins
bore the likeness of the Phoenician god Melqart
or Baal, accepted as the Olympian Herakles by
the Greeks and derided as Beelzebub by Jews in
the time of the Seleucids, wearing the laurel
reflecting his role in the Tyrian games and the
Ancient Olympics. These coins, the size of a
modern Israeli half-shekel, were minted in
Israel, but were required to bear this image by
the Romans to avoid accusations that the Jews
were given autonomy.
In numismatic mythological beliefs.
It is said that anyone who touches or holds
any of these original 30 pieces of silver coins
is cursed. The curse is worst than death itself.
I don't know myself if I would believe the curse.
I would not touch any of these coins myself.
..
Jerry Dennis
wrote:
Interesting thoughts. This is probably getting off your intended
discussion, but the 30 pieces of silver are probably long gone.
Matthew 27:3-5 states that Judas threw the 30 pieces of silver into
the temple, then ran out and hanged himself. The chief priests took
the 30 pieces and bought a potter's field with them. Given that
information, they were most ended up back in local circulation with no
knowledge as to their "pedigree."
Jerry
note.boy
"Jerry Dennis" <JDen...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:210fb1a4-413b-488c...@n21g2000vba.googlegroups.com...
On Jan 27, 10:18?pm, "Arizona Coin Collector" <nos...@nospam.com>
Jerry
That lack of pedigree does not stop them being sold as "coins of the bible"
and hinting that the one a buyer will get may just be one of the ones
mentioned in the bible, the same goes for "the widow's mite" coins. Billy
Peter
> "Jerry Dennis" <JDen1...@aol.com> wrote in message
>
> - Show quoted text -
It may be an interesting observation that the existence of the money
changers at the temple was in part to prevent the pollution of the
temple with profane currency (i.e., silver coins with pictures of
people or foreign gods). Despite their need for purity and the
service rendered by these money changers, the priests had silver coins
at hand for their own needs.