Treasures of the Holy land - Israel Gifts: 1st Century Authentic Reproduction Coins

1st Century Authentic Reproduction Coins

In ancient times, people would buy and sell goods through trade and barter, and through the exchange of precious metals. The introduction of coinage in Asia Minor and Greece in the seventh century BCE changed the rules of business.

The documentation and chronology of coins used in the Holy Land is very well established, and archaeologists use coins uncovered in an excavation to help establish a date for the site. Common denominations/sums cited in the Bible include the Daric, Denarius, Drachma, Gerah, Lepton (Mite), Penny, Pound, Shekel and Talent. The small coin known as the “Widow’s Mite” was the smallest coin of Jesus’ day. Minted under both John Hyrcanus 1 and Alexander Jannaeus (the more common Jannaeus coin appearing about a century before Jesus, and lasting for two hundred years), the Lepton, or Mite, was often not carefully struck.

In Jesus’ time, one day’s labor was commonly valued at one Denarius, or 336 Mites! That being the case, the Widow’s two Mites would equal less than 50 cents in today’s currency. Jesus looked though at the heart, and placed great value on the Widow’s offering of all she had.