Convert Tetradrachma (Biblical Greek) (tetradrachma) to Shekel (Biblical Hebrew) (shekel) instantly.
About these units
Tetradrachma (Biblical Greek) (tetradrachma)
A tetradrachma weighed about 17 grams, equivalent to four drachmas. It became one of the most widely circulated silver coins in the ancient world, especially under the Athenian empire. Athenian tetradrachms, often stamped with the iconic owl design, were standardized, highly trusted, and circulated across the Mediterranean as an international currency. Although now primarily of numismatic interest, tetradrachms are key archaeological artifacts, illuminating trade networks, political authority, and artistic expression.
Shekel (Biblical Hebrew) (shekel)
The shekel, approximately 11.3 grams, is the foundational Hebrew weight unit, originally used for silver-based transactions long before it became a monetary term. In Biblical contexts, shekels represent wages, prices, fines, and sacrificial offerings. The shekel's mass-based origins mean that early shekel "coins" were actually weighed pieces of silver rather than minted currency. The modern Israeli currency's name (the New Israeli Shekel) preserves the ancient term, linking present-day society to its deep historical roots.