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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Judean & Biblical Coins| ▸ |Biblical Coins| ▸ |Widow's Mites||View Options:   | | | Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow put more into the treasury than all the others. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on." (Mark 12:43-44) These coins are bronze lepta and prutot of Alexander Jannaeus, the Hasmonean King of Judaea from 103 to 76 B.C. Although these coins were minted long before Christ's lifetime, they were still in circulation during the first century A.D. Because the lepton and prutah were the lowest denomination coins that circulated in Jerusalem during Christ's lifetime, they are believed to be the coins referred to in the Biblical story of the poor widow. The lepton is the very smallest denomination and is probably the true "widow's mite." In fact, the lepton is probably the lowest denomination coin ever struck by any nation in all of history! Lepton and prutah were carelessly and crudely struck, usually off center and on small flans. Because they circulated for a long period, they are usually very worn. Legends are almost always unreadable. The actual size of a prutah is less than 1/2 inch in diameter. A lepton is usually about the same diameter as a pencil eraser. For more information see Widow's Mite on NumisWiki. |
Jannaeus' anchor coins were probably struck after the conquest of the coastal cities (with the exception of Ashkelon) in 95 B.C. The anchor probably publicized the annexation of these areas. -- Ancient Jewish Coinage by Yaakov MeshorerJD96963. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6189, Meshorer TJC K, Meshorer AJC C, HGC 10 637, VF, weight 1.254 g, maximum diameter 16.1 mm, Jerusalem mint, 95 - 76 B.C.; obverse star of eight rays and central pellet, surrounded by diadem, Paleo-Hebrew inscription "Yehonatan the king" between rays; reverse Greek legend: BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY (of King Alexander), upside-down anchor; SOLD
Judean Kingdom, Alexander Jannaeus (Yehonatan), 104 - 76 B.C.
Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. A poor widow came and put in two lepta coins, which amount to a quadrans. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow put more into the treasury than all the others. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on." (Mark 12:41-44)JD111116. Bronze lepton, Meshorer TJC L1, Sofaer 238, Hendin 6191, HGC 10 644, VF, uneven strike, casting sprue remnants, reverse edge beveled, weight 1.569 g, maximum diameter 16.7 mm, Jerusalem mint, c. 78 - 76 B.C.; obverse Aramaic inscription: King Alexander year 25, star of eight rays and central pellet within circle of dots; reverse Greek legend: BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY (of King Alexander), upside-down anchor within linear circle; ex Amphora Coins (David Hendin) with his signed photo authenticity receipt noting, "Bold and nicely centered for the ONLY DATED COIN in the Maccabean series!"; SOLD
Judean Kingdom, Alexander Jannaeus (Yehonatan), 104 - 76 B.C., Irregular Variety
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow put more into the treasury than all the others. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on." (Mark 12:43-44)JD111752. Bronze lepton, Meshorer Group K19; Hendin 6189c; HGC 10 637 var. (inscription on obv.), VF, dark green patina, earthen deposits, obv. double struck, rev. off center, weight 1.334 g, maximum diameter 15.7 mm, Jerusalem mint, c. 95 - 76 B.C.; obverse star of eight rays and central pellet, no visible diadem, no visible Paleo-Hebrew inscription; reverse blundered Greek legend: BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY (of King Alexander), upside-down anchor with ring at end; ex CNG e-auction 510 (23 Feb 2022), lot 280; ex Dr. Jay M. Galst Collection, ex Herb Kreindler (Aug 1986); SOLD
Judean Kingdom, Alexander Jannaeus (Yehonatan), 104 - 76 B.C., Irregular Variety
This type may have been struck at by a mobile military mint or is perhaps an ancient counterfeit.JD55120. Bronze prutah, Meshorer TJC K19, Hendin 6189b, Meshorer AJC C, HGC 10 637, VF, crude type, weight 1.801 g, maximum diameter 15.0 mm, mobile military(?) or counterfeiter mint, c. 95 - 76 B.C.; obverse star of eight rays, no visible inscription; reverse blundered Greek legend: BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY (of King Alexander), upside-down anchor; SOLD
Judean Kingdom, Alexander Jannaeus (Yehonatan), 104 - 76 B.C., Widow's Mite
Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. A poor widow came and put in two lepta coins, which amount to a quadrans. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow put more into the treasury than all the others. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on." (Mark 12:41-44)JD113608. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6189c, Meshorer TJC K15, Meshorer AJC C, Hendin 6189, Meshorer TJC K, Meshorer AJC C, HGC 10 637, VF, off center, obv. edge beveled, sprue cuts on edge, flan flaws, weight 1.143 g, maximum diameter 13.2 mm, Jerusalem mint, 95 - 76 B.C.; obverse star of eight rays and central pellet surrounded by diadem, no Paleo-Hebrew inscription; reverse Greek legend: BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY (of King Alexander), upside-down anchor, border of dots ouside of legend; SOLD
Judean Kingdom, Alexander Jannaeus (Yehonatan), 104 - 76 B.C.
Jannaeus' anchor coins were probably struck after the conquest of the coastal cities (with the exception of Ashkelon) in 95 B.C. The anchor probably publicized the annexation of these areas. -- Ancient Jewish Coinage by Yaakov MeshorerJD97688. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6189, Meshorer TJC K, Meshorer AJC C, HGC 10 637, F, double struck, earthen deposits, scrapes, weight 2.153 g, maximum diameter 15.7 mm, die axis 0o, Jerusalem mint, 95 - 76 B.C.; obverse star of eight rays and central pellet, surrounded by diadem, Paleo-Hebrew inscription "Yehonatan the king" between rays; reverse Greek legend: BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY (of King Alexander), upside-down anchor; from an Israeli collection; SOLD
Judean Kingdom, Alexander Jannaeus (Yehonatan), 104 - 76 B.C.
Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. A poor widow came and put in two lepta coins, which amount to a quadrans. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow put more into the treasury than all the others. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on." (Mark 12:41-44)JD37121. Bronze lepton, Meshorer TJC L1, Sofaer 238, Hendin 6191, HGC 10 644, VF, reverse off-center, weight 1.163 g, maximum diameter 15.4 mm, Jerusalem mint, 78 - 76 B.C.; obverse Aramaic inscription: King Alexander year 25, star of eight rays and central pellet within circle of dots; reverse Greek legend: BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY (of King Alexander), upside-down anchor within linear circle; ex Amphora Coins (David Hendin); SOLD
Judean Kingdom, Alexander Jannaeus (Yehonatan), 104 - 76 B.C.
Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. A poor widow came and put in two lepta coins, which amount to a quadrans. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow put more into the treasury than all the others. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on." (Mark 12:41-44)JD37106. Bronze lepton, Meshorer TJC L8, Sofaer 260, Hendin 6195, HGC 10 644, gVF, weight 0.602 g, maximum diameter 10.9 mm, Jerusalem mint, 78 - 76 B.C.; obverse star of six rays, within circle of dots, barbaric blundered imitation of Aramaic legend around; reverse upside-down anchor within linear circle, blundered barbaric imitation of Greek legend around; SOLD
Judean Kingdom, Alexander Jannaeus (Yehonatan), 104 - 76 B.C.
Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. A poor widow came and put in two lepta coins, which amount to a quadrans. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow put more into the treasury than all the others. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on." (Mark 12:41-44)JD54945. Bronze prutah, Meshorer TJC L2, Sofaer 239, Hendin 6191, HGC 10 644, VF, off-center, weight 1.398 g, maximum diameter 14.7 mm, Jerusalem mint, 78 - 76 B.C.; obverse Aramaic inscription: King Alexander year 25, star of eight rays and central pellet within circle of dots; reverse Greek legend: BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY (of King Alexander), upside-down anchor within linear circle, L KE (year 25) near anchor points; SOLD
Judean Kingdom, Alexander Jannaeus (Yehonatan), 104 - 76 B.C.
Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. A poor widow came and put in two lepta coins, which amount to a quadrans. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow put more into the treasury than all the others. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on." (Mark 12:41-44)JD55335. Bronze lepton, Meshorer TJC L4, Sofaer 247, Hendin 6191, HGC 10 644, VF, weight 0.791 g, maximum diameter 12.7 mm, Jerusalem mint, 78 - 76 B.C.; obverse Aramaic inscription: King Alexander year 25, star of eight rays and central pellet within circle of dots; reverse Greek legend: BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY (of King Alexander), upside-down anchor within linear circle, L K[E] (year 25, E missing) near anchor points; SOLD
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