ANCIENT JUDAEAN HACKSILBER, CIRCA. 10th - 6th CENTURY B.C.E.
Superb condition, 5.785 grams, 16.92mm x 15.35mm
A SUPERB hacksilver specimen found in Israel, cut to the size of a Beka (1/2 Shekel), no doubt the nicest we have seen!
These are cut or chopped silver ingots that were weighed and used as currency during the First Temple period. The pieces are usually oddly cut or fragmented and it is hard to say whether they were intentionally cut to sizes. This piece is quite EXQUISITE as you can see that it was clearly cut and trimmed on all four sides, apparently to achieve the correct weight of a beka. The beka during the early First Temple period was approximately 5.7 - 5.9 grams. This meticulously formed piece weighs in at 5.785 perfectly within range.
