Ancient Shekel

The ancient shekel was an early form of currency and measurement used in the ancient Near East, particularly in Mesopotamia. Originally, it referred to a unit of weight, roughly equivalent to 11 grams of silver or other precious metals, which facilitated trade and commerce. Over time, the shekel also became a standard coin or currency used in various ancient societies like Israel and Phoenicia. It helped standardize trade, taxes, and offerings, making economic transactions more consistent and reliable across different regions. The shekel's concept laid the groundwork for subsequent monetary systems used in the ancient world.