'A shekel' signifies the price or estimation of good and truth, and 'half a shekel' signifies the determination of the quantity thereof.

(References: Arcana Coelestia 3104)

5767. 'And caused to come down, each one his pouch to the earth' means that they brought the contents of the natural down to the level of sensory impressions This is clear from the meaning of 'causing to come down' - when these words are anticipating those that immediately follow them - as bringing to; from the meaning of 'pouch' as the exterior natural, dealt with in 5497; and from the meaning of 'the earth', when it says that they caused their pouches to come down to it, as the ultimate or lowest, thus the sensory level. For this level is the lowest or ultimate one since the senses are positioned at the doorway to the world outside. Bringing down to sensory impressions implies a thorough verification that a thing is so, for in this case even sensory evidence testifies to the inference that is being drawn.