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Jay Martin Galst amassed an important collection of ancient and medieval coins, many from the
Holy Land, as well as modern coins, medals, and tokens, particularly those related to his profession of ophthalmology. Over a year now since Jay died from complications of COVID-19 during the worst of the initial pandemic surge in
New York City, his presence is still sorely missed here at the
ANS, where he was a frequent visitor.
Jay always intended that the bulk of his collection eventually be sold both to benefit his family (Fig. 1) and, as a consummate collector himself, to ensure that others might have the opportunity to collect and enjoy the items that he once owned and enjoyed. Currently, the Galst Collection is being auctioned by
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By David Hendin for CoinWeek ... Over the years I have spent three seasons as numismatist at excavations of Sepphoris in the Galilee, sponsored by Duke
Exodus 30: 13-16) to collect a half-shekel tax, the shekel being 20
gerah of the shekel of the sanctuary, at the time of each census. During the time of Moses there were no coins, so we understand this to mean the weight of half a shekel, according to the standards set by the sanctuary. Subsequently, it is suggested that the half-shekel was paid annually (
II Kings 12 5-17 and
Nehemiah 10:32-33). In the
Book of Nehemiah, it was referred to as a “third-shekel” but scholars generally believe that this was either an error of transcription or a reference to Persian weight standards, commonly used in coins of the day. The Temple tax is also mentioned in