3,944. The Seals

Hilchos Klei HaMikdash 7:11

There were four seals in the Temple, which had written on them “calf,” “male,” “kid” and “sinner,” respectively (corresponding to offerings that would require libations of different volumes).

Hilchos Klei HaMikdash 7:12

When a person brought offerings to the Temple, he would give money for the libations to the official in charge of the seals, who would give him the appropriate number of seals for those offerings. If a metzora (a person with tzaraas) was well-off, he would be given a “sinner” seal (because the offering brought was dependent on one’s means). The one bringing the offerings took the seals to the official in charge of libations, who would give him the appropriate libations based on the number of seals and what was written on them. In the evening, the seal official and the libation official would meet and exchange the seals and the money. Any surplus money was deposited in the Temple treasury, while the official in charge of seals had to personally make up any deficit. If someone bringing an offering lost a seal, he would wait until evening and if there was a surplus equal to the value of the seal he claims to have lost, it is given to him, but not otherwise. The seals had the current date written on them to keep dishonest people from holding on to them until the price of the libations went up (at which point they could cash them in at a profit).