Did Rome Take Money That Had Gone to the Sanctuary and Force Yahudim to Pay It to Rome Instead?

Primary: Josephus, The Jewish War 7.6.6 · Policy: later known as the fiscus Judaicus · Physical: Roman coinage under Nerva

What the ancient record says

After the war a tax was imposed on Yahudim: two drachmas every year, directed to the Capitol in Rome, Josephus makes the comparison explicit: they were ordered to pay it there as they had formerly contributed to the sanctuary in Yahrushalam. Before: money associated with the sanctuary in Yahrushalam.

After: Rome directs the payment to the Capitol (center of Rome's Capitoline complex, including Jupiter). Greek: a tax on the Ioudaioi, each carrying two drachmas yearly to the Kapetolion as they had contributed to the sanctuary in Hierosolyma (we preserve the Greek when examining what he wrote, using restored names in explanation).

Physical evidence: the fiscus Judaicus is not known only from Josephus, the British Museum identifies Roman material associated with the tax and explains Vespasian required the former sanctuary tax be paid to the Capitoline temple; it preserves discussion of a coin issued under Emperor Nerva in 97 CE concerning abuses connected with the tax. So: literary witness + Roman numismatic evidence + museum documentation.

Nerva did not abolish the tax, the coin proclaimed the ending of abuses while the tax continued. Do not claim every coin proves every detail of Josephus; different evidence establishes different pieces.