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Widow's Mite
XXI

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Widow's Mites of Mark 12:41-44

41 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.

42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, together worth less than a penny.

43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.

44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."

Because the lepton (plural: lepta) and prutah (plural: prutot) 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. Although any type of Judean lepta or prutot could have been donated by the poor widow, when you buy a "widow's mite" you will most like receive a star and anchor type lepton struck by Alexander Jannaeus (Yehonatan), the Hasmonean King of Judaea from 103 to 76 B.C. The lepta of Alexander Jannaeus are the most common and lowest cost possible "widow's mite" type. Although these coins were minted long before Christ's lifetime, they were still in circulation in the first century A.D. 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. Since the lepton is the very smallest denomination, it is more likely the true "widow's mite." Lepta were often carelessly and crudely struck, usually off center and on small flans. Because they circulated for a long period, they are most often very worn and legends are usually illegible.

See Widow's Mites For Sale in the Forum Ancient Coins shop.


References

Hendin, David. Guide to Biblical Coins, 6th Edition. (New York, 2021). Hendin.
Hoover, O. Handbook of Coins of the Southern Levant: Phoenicia, Southern Koile Syria (Including Judaea), and Arabia, 5th to 1st Centuries BC. HGC 10. (Lancaster, 2010). HGC 10.
Meshorer, Y. Ancient Jewish Coinage. (New York, 1982). Meshorer AJC.
Meshorer, Y. A Treasury of Jewish Coins from the Persian Period to Bar Kokhba. (Jerusalem, 2001). Meshorer TJC.
Meshorer, Y., et al. Coins of the Holy Land: The Abraham and Marian Sofaer Collection at the American Numismatic Society and The Israel Museum. (New York, 2013). Sofaer.


Widow's Mite Variations Identified by David Hendin and Ya'akov Meshorer

Paleo-Hebrew is read from right to left; on these coins it is read counter-clockwise. The anchor on all types is upside-down (inverted), as if hanging on the side of a boat. Meshorer identifies the anchor side as the obverse, but here we follow Hendin's 5th addition and the star side is described as the obverse.

Judean Kingdom, Alexander Jannaeus (Yehonatan), 103 - 76 B.C.

Prutot

Hendin 6189 - Prutah, Diadem Around Star, Paleo-Hebrew Inscription Between Rays, Average Weight 1.71 g.

Click for a larger photoClick for a larger photo

Hendin 6189

Judean Kingdom, Alexander Jannaeus (Yehonatan), 103 - 76 B.C., Bronze prutah, Hendin 6189, Meshorer TJC K1 - K10 (various obv. inscription variations), Meshorer AJC Ca, average weight 1.71g, Jerusalem mint, 95 - 76 B.C.; obverse star of eight rays and central pellet surrounded by diadem, Paleo-Hebrew inscription:  KLM H NTNWHY ("Yehonatan the king") counterclockwise between rays, reverse Greek legendBASILEWS ALEXANDROU (of King Alexander), upside down anchor, dot border outside of legend.

Judean_nun_2Judean_lam_1Judean_mah_2  Judean_hey_3  Judean_nun_3Judean_taw_1Judean_nun_3Judean_waw_7Judean_hey_3Judean_yad_4 - KLM H NTNWHY - YHWNTN H MLK - Yehonatan heh melek - Yehonatan the King

Hendin 6189 and Meshorer TJC K variations ( ][ indicates a ray of the star, reminder: read Paleo-Hebrew from right to left):

Judean_nun_2][Judean_lam_1Judean_mah_2 ][ Judean_hey_3 ][ Judean_nun_3][Judean_taw_1][Judean_nun_3][Judean_waw_7Judean_hey_3][Judean_yad_4][
Meshorer TJC K1. K-LM - H - N-T-N-WH-Y

Judean_nun_2][Judean_lam_1][Judean_mah_2 ][ Judean_hey_3 Judean_nun_3][Judean_taw_1][Judean_nun_3][Judean_waw_7Judean_hey_3][Judean_yad_4][
Meshorer TJC K2. K-L-M - H N-T-N-WH-Y

Judean_nun_2][Judean_lam_1Judean_mah_2 ][ Judean_hey_3 ][ Judean_nun_3][Judean_taw_1][Judean_nun_3Judean_waw_7][Judean_hey_3][Judean_yad_4][
Meshorer TJC K3. K-LM - H - N-T-NW-H-Y
Meshorer TJC K4. Same as K3, but struck on smaller flan.

Judean_nun_2Judean_lam_1][Judean_mah_2 ][ Judean_hey_3 ][ Judean_nun_3][Judean_taw_1][Judean_nun_3Judean_waw_7][Judean_hey_3][Judean_yad_4][
Meshorer TJC K5. KL-M - H - N-T-NW-H-Y

Judean_nun_2][Judean_lam_1][Judean_mah_2 ][ Judean_hey_3 ][ Judean_nun_3Judean_taw_1][Judean_nun_3Judean_waw_7][Judean_hey_3][Judean_yad_4][
Meshorer TJC K6. K-L-M - H - NT-NW-H-Y

Judean_nun_2][Judean_lam_1][Judean_mah_2 ][ Judean_hey_3 Judean_nun_3][Judean_taw_1][Judean_nun_3Judean_waw_7][Judean_hey_3][Judean_yad_4][
Meshorer TJC K7. K-L-M - H N-T-NW-H-Y

Judean_nun_2][Judean_lam_1][Judean_mah_2 ][ Judean_hey_3 ][ Judean_taw_1][Judean_nun_3][Judean_waw_7Judean_hey_3][Judean_yad_4][
Meshorer TJC K8. K-L-M - H - T-N-WH-Y

Judean_nun_2][Judean_lam_1Judean_mah_2 ][ Judean_hey_3 ][ Judean_nun_3][Judean_taw_1][Judean_nun_3][Judean_hey_3][Judean_yad_4][
Meshorer TJC K9. K-LM - H - N-T-N-H-Y

Judean_nun_2][Judean_lam_1][Judean_mah_2 ][ Judean_hey_3 ][ Judean_nun_3][Judean_taw_1][Judean_nun_3][Judean_yad_4][
Meshorer TJC K10. K-L-M - H - N-T-N-Y

Hendin 6189b - As 6189, but Crude Irregular Variety.

Click for a larger photoClick for a larger photo
Judean Kingdom, Alexander Jannaeus (Yehonatan), 103 - 76 B.C., Bronze prutah, Hendin 6189b (crude, irregular variety), Meshorer TJC K18 - K22, possibly struck by a mobile military mint, or perhaps ancient counterfeits, c. 95 - 76 B.C.; obverse star of eight rays (usually eight) and central pellet surrounded by diadem, sometimes blundered Paleo-Hebrew inscription between rays, reverse blundered imitation of a Greek legend, upside down anchor.

Hendin 6189b and Meshorer TJC K variations:
Meshorer TJC K18. Carelessly executed and only a few letters readable.
Meshorer TJC K19. Same as K18, but Paleo-Hebrew inscription is almost completely missing. The anchor has a ring.
Meshorer TJC K20. Same as K18, but even cruder.
Meshorer TJC K21. The anchor on this coin is strange and looks like two anchors combined by their tails.
Meshorer TJC K22. The anchor on this coin is strangely designed and may represent yet a different object.

Hendin 6189c - As 6189, but No Paleo-Hebrew Inscription.

Click for a larger photoClick for a larger photo
Judean Kingdom, Alexander Jannaeus (Yehonatan), 103 - 76 B.C., Bronze prutah, Hendin 6189c, Meshorer TJC K14 - K15, Jerusalem mint, 95 - 76 B.C.; obverse star of eight rays and central pellet surrounded by diadem, no inscription; reverse Greek legendBASILEWS ALEXANDROU (of King Alexander), upside down anchor, dot border outside of legend.

Hendin  6189c and Meshorer TJC K variations:
Meshorer TJC K14. Style inferior to TJC K13.
Meshorer TJC K15. Star with eight pellets only instead of rays.

Other Hendin  6189 and Meshorer TJC K Variations:
Hendin 6189a. Extremely heavy.
Hendin 6189b. Overstruck on earlier prutah.
Hendin 6189d, Meshorer TJC K11. Obverse brockage.
Hendin 6189e, Meshorer TJC K12. Reverse brockage.
Hendin 6189f. Overstruck on Hendin 6185 (only one known example).
Meshorer TJC K13. Style similar to Hendin 6196, Meshorer TJC K17 (below), but with Yehonatan inscription.
Meshorer TJC K16. Double struck.

Hendin 6190 - Different Paleo-Hebrew Inscription and P Between Rays /More Refined Greek Epigraphy and Anchor Style, Usually Less Than 1.00 g.

Click for a larger photo
Judean Kingdom, Alexander Jannaeus (Yehonatan), 103 - 76 B.C., Bronze prutah, Hendin 6190, Meshorer TJC K17, Meshorer AJC Cb, weight usually less than 1.00 g, Jerusalem mint, 95 - 76 B.C.; obverse star of eight rays and central pellet surrounded by diadem, Paleo-Hebrew inscription: KHN H MLK "priest the king" and a P-like monogram between rays; reverse finely engraved Greek inscriptionBASILEWS ALEXANDROU (of King Alexander), neatly engraved upside-down anchor, dot border outside legend.

Judean_nun_2Judean_lam_1Judean_mah_2  Judean_hey_3  Judean_nun_3Judean_taw_1Judean_nun_3Judean_waw_7Judean_hey_3Judean_yad_4 - KLM H KHN - KHN H MLK - kohen heh melek - Priest the King

Note: The Paleo-Hebrew inscription and monogram are often obscure. Hendin 6190 type can usually be identified by the style of the anchor and the epigraphy of the Greek inscription. However, Meshorer TJC K13 is identified as this style but with the Yehonatan inscription, making attribution purely by style uncertain. The inscription was apparently a short-lived attempt at propaganda to refute the Pharisees' claims that the Hasmoneans were priests and therefore not from David's line and thus usurpers of the crown.

Hendin 6190 Variations:
Hendin 6190a. Obverse brockage.

Lepta

Note: David Hendin now identifies all examples of these star anchor types as prutot, but we still identify the following smaller coins (Hendin 6192 and 6193) as lepta.

Hendin 6191

Bronze lepton (half prutah), Hendin 6191, Meshorer TJC L, Meshorer AJC C, Jerusalem mint, 78 - 76 B.C., 1.3g, 14mm; obverse ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝ∆ΡΟΥ (of King Alexander), anchor upside-down in circle, L KE (= year 25) near anchor points; reverse Paleo-Hebrew inscription, King Alexander Year 25, star of eight rays surrounded by diadem of dots.

The Pseudo-Aramaic-Hebrew inscription read counterclockwise as follows:
L (for) MLK' (King) 'LKS'NDRW' (Alexander) SNT (year) KH (25)

Judean_hey_2Judean_kaf_1 Judean_taw_2Judean_nun_3Judean_shin_2 Aramaic_ayinJudean_waw_1Judean_rosh_3Judean_dalethJudean_nun_6Aramaic_ayinJudean_tsad_2Judean_kaf_2judean_lamed_3 Judean_kaf_1judean_lamed_3 Judean_lam_1 - HK TNS 'WRN'SKL' 'KLM L - L MLK' 'LKS'NDRW' SNT KH - le melek Aleksandro sh'nat 25 - for King Alexander year 25

Hendin 6191 - Lepton, Aramaic Inscription Outside Dot Circle Around Star / Linear Circle Around Anchor and Greek Date: L KE at Anchor Points, Average Weight 1.20 g.

Click for a larger photoClick for a larger photo
Judean Kingdom, Alexander Jannaeus (Yehonatan), 103 - 76 B.C., Bronze lepton, Hendin 6191, Meshorer TJC L1 - L2, Meshorer AJC , average weight 1.20 g, Jerusalem mint, 80 - 79 B.C.; obverse Aramaic legend: MLK LKSNDRWS SNT KH ("King Alexander year 25"), star of eight rays within circle of dots; reverse Greek legend: BASILEWS ALEXANDROU (of King Alexander), anchor upside-down within linear circle, L KE (Greek date: year 25, often just dots) near anchor points.

Note: Aramaic is read right to left. The Greek date is engraved with dots connected by fine lines. The date is often illegible, appearing just as groups of dots.

Meshorer TJC L variations:

Judean_hey_2Judean_kaf_1 Judean_taw_2Judean_nun_3Judean_shin_2 Judean_shin_2Judean_waw_1Judean_rosh_3Judean_dalethJudean_nun_6Aramaic_ayinJudean_tsad_2Judean_kaf_2judean_lamed_3 Judean_kaf_1judean_lamed_3 - HK TNS SWRDNSKL KLM - MLK LKSNDRWS SNT KH - melek Aleksandros sh'nat 25 - King Alexander year 25
Meshorer TJC L1. Full Aramaic legend: MLK LKSNDRWS SNT KH ("King Alexander year 25").

Judean_hey_2Judean_kaf_1 Judean_taw_2Judean_nun_3Judean_shin_2 Judean_shin_2Judean_waw_1Judean_rosh_3Judean_dalethJudean_nun_6Aramaic_ayinJudean_tsad_2Judean_kaf_2judean_lamed_3 Judean_kaf_1judean_lamed_3 - HK TNS RDNSKL KLM - MLK LKSNDR SNT KH - melek Aleksand sh'nat 25 - King Alexander year 25
Meshorer TJC L2. Abbreviated Aramaic legend: MLK LKSNDR SNT KH ("King Alexand year 25").

Judean_kaf_1 Judean_taw_2Judean_nun_3Judean_shin_2 Judean_shin_2Judean_waw_1Judean_rosh_3Judean_dalethJudean_nun_6Aramaic_ayinJudean_tsad_2Judean_kaf_2judean_lamed_3 Judean_kaf_1judean_lamed_3 - K TNS SWRDNSKL KLM - MLK LKSNDRWS SNT KH - melek Aleksandros sh'nat 20 - King Alexander year 20
Meshorer TJC L4. Last letter of Aramaic date is missing (appears as year 20 in error).

EK L Judean_shin_2Judean_waw_1Judean_rosh_3Judean_dalethJudean_nun_6Aramaic_ayinJudean_tsad_2Judean_kaf_2judean_lamed_3 Judean_kaf_1judean_lamed_3 - KE L SWRDNSKL KLM - MLK LKSNDRWS L KE - melek Aleksandros L KE - King Alexander year 25
Meshorer TJC L5. LKE (Greek date year 25) follows Aramaic legend on obverse.

L EK Judean_shin_2Judean_waw_1Judean_rosh_3Judean_dalethJudean_nun_6Aramaic_ayinJudean_tsad_2Judean_kaf_2judean_lamed_3 Judean_kaf_1judean_lamed_3 - L EK SWRDNSKL KLM - MLK LKSNDRWS KE L - melek Aleksandros KE L - King Alexander year 25
Meshorer TJC L6. KEL (blundered Greek date year 25) follows Aramaic legend on obverse.

Hendin 6191a - As 6191, but No Greek Date at Anchor Points.

Click for a larger photo
Judean Kingdom, Alexander Jannaeus (Yehonatan), 103 - 76 B.C., Bronze lepton, Hendin 6191a, Meshorer TJC L3, Jerusalem mint, 78 - 76 B.C.; obverse Aramaic legend: MLK LKSNDRWS SNT KH ("King Alexander year 25"), star of eight rays within circle of dots; reverse Greek legend: BASILEWS ALEXANDROU (of King Alexander), anchor upside-down within linear circle border, no Greek date.

Successors of Jannaeus

Salome Alexandra, 76 - 67 B.C.; Hyrcanus II, 67 & 63 - 40 B.C.; and Aristobulus II, 67 - 63 B.C.

Hendin 6195 - Lepton, No Date, Blundered or No Legends, Sometimes Very Crude, Crude Star Sometimes Within Dot Circle / Crude Anchor Within Linear Circle, Average weight 0.81 g.

Click for a larger photoClick for a larger photoClick for a larger photo
Judean Kingdom, Salome Alexandra, 76 - 67 B.C.; Hyrcanus II, 67 & 63 - 40 B.C.; and Aristobulus II, 67 - 63 B.C., Bronze lepton, Hendin 6195, Meshorer TJC L7 - L17, average weight 0.81g, Jerusalem mint, 78 - 76 B.C.; obverse illegible partial or completely missing, legend imitative of Semitic letters, star usually with six or eight rays and central pellet within a circle of dots; reverse incomplete or missing legend imitative of Greek letters, anchor upside-down within linear circle border.

Hendin 6195 and Meshorer TJC L Variations:
Hendin 6195a. Struck in lead.
Hendin 6195b - Reverse (anchors) brockage.
Hendin 6195c - Obverse (stars) brockage.
Hendin 6195d - i Cruder varieties.
Meshorer TJC L7. Star of eight rays. Inscriptions imitative of Greek and Semitic letters, incomplete, or missing.
Meshorer TJC L8. Star of six rays. Inscriptions imitative of Greek and Semitic letters, incomplete, or missing.
Meshorer TJC L9. Star of six rays, no inscriptions.
Meshorer TJC L10. Same as L9, but rays are pellets.
Meshorer TJC L11. Crude anchor appears as a cross or X.
Meshorer TJC L12. On obverse only the Aramaic letters KH (25) and on the reverse only Greek letters NV.
Meshorer TJC L13. Tiny coin with symbols that are not clearly either an anchor or star.
Meshorer TJC L14. Tiny coin single ray and pellets.
Meshorer TJC L15. Casting sprue attached.
Meshorer TJC L16. Casting sprue and part of another coin attached.

Hendin 6196 - Lepton, No Date, Blundered or No Legends, Sometimes Very Crude, Crude Star Sometimes Within Dot Circle / Crude Anchor Within Linear Circle, Average weight 0.81 g.

Judean Kingdom, Salome Alexandra, 76 - 67 B.C.; Hyrcanus II, 67 & 63 - 40 B.C.; and Aristobulus II, 67 - 63 B.C., Bronze lepton, Hendin 6196, Meshorer TJC L17; obverse incomplete Paleo-Hebrew inscription YHWNTN ("Yehonatan") replaces Aramaic around star within a circle of dots; reverse incomplete or missing legend imitative of Greek letters, anchor upside-down within linear circle border. Very rare.

See Widow's Mites For Sale in the Forum Ancient Coins shop.


Widow's Mite Replicas

To see more modern widow's mite replicas, sometimes sold as genuine, search the Dr. Ilya Prokopov Fake Coin Reports for Widow Mite (without the 's).

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