Question 222: What was the value of the thirty pieces of silver that Judas received?

Answer:

The pieces of silver were probably shekels. It would be about the average pay for four months of work. Zechariah had predicted the whole transaction (see Zechariah 2:12, 13): "They weighed for My price thirty pieces of silver and Elohiym said cast it unto the potter," etc. It is not likely that Judas acted from avarice only, though he was fond of money. He probably meant to force Moshiach's hand. He may have thought him backward in claiming the Kingdom and supposed that if He was driven to bay, He would deliver Himself by a miracle and declare Himself King. That theory is confirmed by his committing suicide when he discovered the consequences of his act.