Let’s begin with the moneychangers table. (John 2:14) When this table was flipped over what coins could have been on that table? 

• City: Phoenicia, Tyre
• Date: 107-106 BC
• Denomination: Shekel 
• Obverse: Melqarth
• Reverse: Eagle
• Reference: Hendin 917

The Shekels of Tyre were also known as the Temple Tax Coins.  In this blog I will explore many possible coins that could have been on the table that day but, a coin like this one, must have been there. it was the only coin that was acceptable at this time to pay the Temple Tax.  At first I was amazed to find this out. This is not a Jewish Coin.  It also has minted on it a pagan god which I am sure would not have been acceptable to Jewish authorities. Yet this coin was from the city of Tyre and coins from this city were well known to be of consistant purity and weight.  It was for this reason that it was acceptable for the Temple Tax and seemingly why an exception was made.

It should also be noted that these coins, which were minted over many years, were minted in two series.  This particular coin is from the first series.  The first series was definelty minted in Tyre.  But later, somewhere around 18 BC, for reasons unknown, a second series was begun. The way to tell the difference is that the second series has the letters “KP” minted on the reverse.   Here is an example of a coin from the second series: