Judaica / Zionism - Gorlitz shekel

Judaica / Zionism - Gorlitz shekel The first "Görlitz Shekels" were issued in the 15th century when it was still unknown how the "Shekel" coins of the Roman period looked like. It is believed that George Emmerich, mayor of the city of Görlitz in Prussia, was the first who "invented" these coins when he visited the Holy Land on a pilgrimage in 1465. When he returned to Prussia he imported an ancient Shekel and told that this was one of the thirty Shekalim which Judas Iscariot was given by the Romans for extraditing "that man". From that year on, such coins were minted with minor changes throughout Europe and they became popular amongst Jews and Christians alike. The coins were used for various purposes: they served as memorial coins and amulets; amongst the European Jews the coins were used as part of the "Machatzit HaShekel" tradition, or for charity or donating to the poor during the Holiday of Purim; some used them for "Pidyon HaBen".