What did jews use for money when jesus was around?

At one point the money changers were so ubiquitous, and apparently rowdy in conducting their business, that they brought some unwanted attention onto themselves.

The Hebrew word for these money changers, or exchange bankers is shulhani. They were not only needed to change foreign money into the shekels and half shekels of Tyre for use in the Temple, but foreign travelers did not carry large amounts of small change. Instead they carried money in the largest denominations possible, and therefore the money changers also served the important function of breaking these down into the small denominations needed for everyday buying and selling.

https://www.coinsweekly.com/en/Archive/Surcharge-of-the-Money-Changers/8?&id=129&type=a

by 1880, germany had more rail lines than great britain and russia.