1) half, part also called "shekel of the sanctuary" or "holy shekel" 2) half a shekel (meton) There appears to be at least three different shekels, one of silver, gold and copper. See a Bible Dictionary for a complete treatment of the subject.
STRONG'S WORD STUDY
H1235 — בֶּ֫קַע
be.qa · bekah · Hebrew/Aramaic
2 tagged verse occurrences
Genesis 24:22 · בֶּ֖קַעAnd it cometh to pass when the camels have finished drinking, that the man taketh a golden ring (whose weight is a bekah), and two bracelets for her hands (whose weight is ten bekahs of gold),Exodus 38:26 · בֶּ֚קַעa bekah for a poll (half a shekel, by the shekel of the sanctuary,) for every one who is passing over unto those numbered, from a son of twenty years and upwards, for six hundred thousand, and three thousand, and five hundred and fifty.