Shekel with Kalbon

Shekel with Kalbon
In Exodus 30:13 one finds the description of an annual tax to be given to the Temple for purchasing public sacrifices: "Each one who crosses over to those already counted is to give a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the Lord". In Mishnaic literature there are many references to this commandment, most of them in Tractate Shkalim. The specific reference is 1:6. When two people pay the half shekel tax with one complete shekel they are obliged to add a commission for the money changer, agio, kalbon. 1. The Sela - A Tyrian Shekel. Obv.: A portrait of Melqarth, the Phoenician Hercules, facing right. Rev.: Eagle facing left, surrounded by Greek inscription. In field, the date POE (49/50 C.E) on left; below it, the club of Hercules; on right, KP (Jerusalem struck?) and the letters EPH. 49/50 C.E. 12.9 grams, 23 mm, axis 12 2. The Kalbon - A bronze prutah of Agrippa I, mint of Jerusalem. Obv.: A canopy surrounded by Greek insc. [AΓ]PIΠA BACIɅE[WC] (of king Agrippa). Rev.: Three ears of grain and the date Lς (sixth year( 42/3 C.E. 2.3 grams, 17 mm, axis 12. TJC 120