Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Shekel \Shek"el\, n. [Heb. shegel, fr. sh[=a]gal to weigh.]
   1. An ancient weight and coin used by the Jews and by other
      nations of the same stock.

   Note: A common estimate makes the shekel equal in weight to
         about 130 grains for gold, 224 grains for silver, and
         450 grains for copper, and the approximate values of
         the coins are (gold) $5.00, (silver) 60 cents, and
         (copper half shekel), one and one half cents.

   2. pl. A jocose term for money.

Source : WordNet®

shekel
     n : the basic unit of money in Israel