When Tyre was stabilized under Ptolemy rule
The Tyrian shekels were highly reputed for their silver content of about 97%, much higher than other silver coins in the region. The aimed weight for the full shekel is estimated at around 14.1 gram. For the half shekel the aimed weight would then be half of this or around 7.1 gram. (50 Shekalim would be 705 grams or 0.7 kilograms of silver=50 shekel kesef.
The US market values 1 Oz of pure silver $24.24.
14.1 gm Tyre silver coin= 1/2 oz today 12.12 USD.
So to have true Havana research to the weight of a Tyre coin is needed.
Then for more accuracy in weight measurement conversions. So hypothetically motzee Sheim rah today would $12.12 USD x 150 or $1818 USD.
The most accurate account of Tyre utilized a Phoenician weight scale where pure silver was 1420 0z coin or 3.3 lbs.
So kenas for an Anus a betulah would be 150 lbs/ 68 Kg worth of pure silver based on those weights.
Most of the region the Seluicids used measurements later on there it was 1640 Oz.
But Tyre as a mint for the most part during Greece was under Ptolemy rule.
Avrahom , United States
Shalom R' Kevelson,
Great to hear from you.
It is amazing how you know so much about historical quantities and prices of silver. I was wondering why you multiplied by 150 in order to get the sum for Motzi Shem Ra. I was expecting we would multiply the quantity of silver by 100, because that is the amount due (Devarim 22:19); in other words, Mishkal Meah Selaim Kesef Mezukak (Rambam, Hilchos Naarah Besulah 3:1).
Warmest regards,
Yishai Rasowsky
Shalom R' Kevelson,
One of the first sources we might look to for authoritative clarity on this issue is the Rambam in Hilchos Shekalim 1:2 who defines the amount of silver weight prescribed for these quantities of Kenas. In terms of weight, he writes, it is equivalent to 320 barley seeds; but that Chazal increased that to coincide with the coin known as a Sela in the times of Bayis Sheini, the weight of which was 348 medium barley seeds.
The Rambam in the Peirush ha'Mishnayos (Bechorot 8:8) elaborates on the measurement of this quantity.
From a quick search, I see that roughly 1000 barley seeds have a mass of 40 grams. The market price for silver is roughly $0.80 per gram. This would mean, if I am not mistaken -- you are invited to correct me, of course -- that for Motzi Sheim Ra, 100 Selaim, would come to roughly the following:
(100 Selaim) (348 barley seeds/1 Sela) (40 gram/1000 barley seeds) ($0.80/gram), in other words approximately* 1000 dollars.
By the way, as I think you can see, the above assumes that a Sela is around 14 grams.
But I see in the English Rambam by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger, he writes that in terms of modern measurements, a Shekel of the Torah is 16 grams of pure silver. Also, that common custom today is to give 96 grams of silver for the five Shekalim required for Pidyon ha'Ben. Accordingly, a Shekel is 19.2 grams. Moreover, according to the Piskei Siddur of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi a shekel is 20.4 grams.
So I do apologize for the remaining degree of inconsistency between the values, but I do hope our calculation helps to give some approximate sense of the amount of money with which we are dealing.
Kesivah v'Chasimah Tovah!
Warmest regards,
Yishai Rasowsky
1) It should be pointed out that your question is only a valid one according to the above Rashi 3b, who writes that the reason that less than a peruta does not work is because of the disgrace involved. However according to Tosfos 3a DH v'Ishah the question does not start. This is because Tosfos writes in the name of Rabeinu Tam that a kidushin of less than a perutah is invalid because less than a perutah is useless for a kinyan. It does not depend on what the wife thinks; whether or not she is particular about receiving less than a perutah, but rather less than a perutah is not considered as money so it follows that kidushin through kesef is ineffective with less than a perutah, even if the wife is happy to receive this amount.
2) I addition the concept of Tav l'Meisav Tan Do is not so absolute. I found in the Teshuvat Chut HaMeshulash #5 DH v'Hineh Od, by Rabbi Eliezer Yitzchak of Volozhin (the grandson of Rav Chaim Volozhiner zt'l) that we observe that many women are very picky about who they marry, until they find the right husband. He also cites the Gemara Kesubos 22a that if a woman says that she is married, and then retracts and claims she is single, she is believed if she can give a good excuse for her initial statement. The Gemara cites a story of a woman who received several offers of marriage but told them all that she was already married. Afterwards she got married to someone else. She explained that the original candidates were unsuitable people but now she received an offer from a worthy husband. Her argument was accepted by the Sages.
3) This all fits with what I wrote in the first reply. It all depends on the respect of the woman. We only say Tav l'Meisav when it is more of an honor for her to get married than to remain single.
KOL TUV
Dovid Bloom