GERMANY. Görlitz, 18th century. Medal (Silver, 26 mm, 7.43 g, 12 h), so-called 'Görlitzer Schekel'. שקל ישראל ('Shekel of Israel' in Hebrew) Chalice containing manna, from which smoke rises. Rev. ירושלם קדושה ('Holy Jerusalem' in Hebrew) Aaron's rod. L. Schier: Yerushalayim ha­Kedoshah, in: Studien zur Oberlausitzer Numismatik - Krobnitzer Hefte 8 (2015), p. 224, fourth row, first piece from the left (this piece). Rare and with beautiful old cabinet toning. Tiny marks, otherwise, extremely fine.



The so-called 'Görlitzer Schekel' were early modern Christian devotional medals loosely modeled on the ancient silver shekels of the First Jewish Revolt. Stripped of their original Jewish historical meaning, they were reinterpreted as replicas of the Thirty Pieces of Silver paid to Judas for the betrayal of Christ and were sold to pilgrims, particularly at the Holy Sepulchre in Görlitz.

In this way, they formed part of a broader Christian anti-Jewish tradition that associated Jews with Judas, betrayal, and avarice. While most surviving examples are cast and often made of base metal, well-struck pieces in good silver, such as the present specimen, are rare and highly sought after.