מחצית השקל

In the Torah we find that the Jews were counted by using a half shekel. Each person would give מחצית השקל (a half of a shekel) and then all the coins would be counted to know how many people there were. Some say Dovid's sin was that he did not count בנ"י using this method and instead counted them directly. Others say that Dovid did use the מחצית השקל method but still one is not supposed to count בנ"י without  a pressing reason.

Below: A image of the front and back of a half shekel coin from the period of the second year of the revolt of Bar Kochba. One side of the coin shows three pomegranates and says on it "ירושלים הקדושה" (Holy Jerusalem). The other coin shows a vessel believed used to hold the Korbon Omer and has the letters שב which is short for שנה ב (year 2 of the revolt). The words חצי שקל (half a shekel) go around the side of the coin.

Click on the image below to see a beautiful picture of a half shekel coin in full size.

To view a replica of these coins click on the image below. (They are available for purchase here.)