Pieces
     (1) of silver. In Ps. 68:30 denotes "fragments," and not
     properly money. In 1 Sam. 2:36 (Heb. agorah), properly a "small
     sum" as wages, weighed rather than coined. Josh. 24:32 (Heb.
     kesitah, q.v.), supposed by some to have been a piece of money
     bearing the figure of a lamb, but rather simply a certain
     amount. (Comp. Gen. 33:19).
       (2.) The word pieces is omitted in many passages, as Gen.
     20:16; 37:28; 45:22, etc. The passage in Zech. 11:12, 13 is
     quoted in the Gospel (Matt. 26:15), and from this we know that
     the word to be supplied is "shekels." In all these omissions we
     may thus warrantably supply this word.
       (3.) The "piece of money" mentioned in Matt. 17:27 is a
     stater=a Hebrew shekel, or four Greek drachmae; and that in Luke
     15:8, 9, Act 19:19, a Greek drachma=a denarius. (See PENNY.)