Ancient Coins

The "Widow's Mite"

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The "Widow's Mite"

Most famous Christian coin

In Ancient Judaea, a destitute woman, who was widowed, contributed most of what money she probably owned by offering two Prutah coins to the temple in Jerusalem. Jesus observed her generosity and pointed this out to his disciples.

This passage from Mark 12:41-44 explains:

"And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And He called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, verily I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance: but she of her want did in all that she had. . .

Although these coins were struck before the birth of Jesus, scholars tell us that they were the most widely circulating coins during his lifetime. Thus, it is believed these are the coins that the "poor widow" actually had in her hand. These Prutah were very crudely struck and it is sometimes difficult to see the design clearly. On the obverse is a spoked wheel (or a radiant star) design. The reverse shows an anchor, which was used because the Holy Land had been occupied by the Seleucid Empire and its symbol was the anchor.

Ancient Jewish coins did not portray human beings as it was considered inappropriate and disrespectful to Jehovah and the Jewish faith. Consequently, many different interesting symbols are found on the coins. This coin is a great religious and numismatic treasure!