Many scholars today believe that the nevel was a lyre or harp-lyre, not a "true" harp. Since this instrument is found on a Jewish coin (and one minted as part of a nationalistic revival at that), it would seem to be a native Jewish instrument. However, its architecture seems unsophisticated compared to other Semitic (let alone Greek) lyres, suggesting that the coin may portray a folk rather than a professional instrument.
