COINS ILLUSTRATING BIBLICAL STORIES

Many of the parables told by Jesus and several of the references to events in the Gospels mention money. While it is not possible to know what exact coin is being referred to in some of these accounts, in many cases the coin type is either known or can be inferred.

These small bronze Leptons issued by Alexander Jannaeus represent the smallest value coin in circulation at the time of Christ. Much like modern small denomination change today, these coins had almost no buying power on their own and many were needed even for the smallest of transactions. The remained in circulation for more than 200 years after the death of Jannaeus.

"Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box,

and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.

And he said, 'Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.

For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.'" Luke 21:1-4

ANCIENT GREECE

ILLYRIA, DYRRHACHIUM

SILVER DRACHM

229-30 BC

17mm 3.3g

SG-1899v

The full meaning of this parable is not immediately evident to the modern reader. To fully grasp the significance of the ten silver coins to the woman we must understand the customs of the times. In the ancient Near East when a woman married she would often be given ten silver coins (often Greek) as a sign of wealth and prosperity. If she were to do something that brought dishonor to her husband or family one or more of the coins could be taken away. For this reason the loss of one of the coins was very upsetting to the woman in the parable.

"Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?

And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.'" Luke 15:8-9

ROMAN EMPIRE

AUGUSTUS CAESAR

SILVER DENARIUS

2 BC - AD 4

19mm 3.8g

SR-1597

In the First Century a Denarius was considered a full days wage for a laborer.

"For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.

After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace,

and to them he said, 'You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.'

So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same.

And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?'

They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You go into the vineyard too.'

And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.'

And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius.

Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius.

And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house,

saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.'

But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?" Matthew 20:1-13

ROMAN EMPIRE

TIBERIUS CAESAR

SILVER DENARIUS

AD 16-37

20mm 3.7g

Hendin-1763

The transition of Judaea from an agricultural and barter based economy to a coinage based on was due in large measure to the Roman requirement that taxes be paid in silver coin. This requirement impacted small farmers the hardest and in many cases they were forced to sell of their land to pay their tax debt. In addition tax collectors would almost always collect more than what was mandated by Rome because they were allowed to keep any extra money collected, this practice invited further abuse of the poorest and weakest members of society. As a result of this system tax collectors were among the most hated members of society.

"Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words.

And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, 'Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances.

Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?' But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, 'Why put me to the test, you hypocrites?

Show me the coin for the tax.' And they brought him a denarius.

And Jesus said to them, 'Whose likeness and inscription is this?'

They said, 'Caesar's.' Then he said to them,"Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."' Matthew 22:15-21

ROMAN SYRIA

AUGUSTUS CAESAR

AE 28

27 BC - AD 14

24-28mm 16.7g

SGI-108

The Greek word that is translated "Penny" in the ESV (and Farthing in the KJV) is "Assarion." It is believed that this Assarion was the bronze coinage of Antioch, Syria which was quite common in First Century Judaea. The value of the Assarion was the same as the official Roman As.

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father." Matthew 10:29

ROMAN EMPIRE

AUGUSTUS CAESAR

BRONZE QUADRANS

9 BC

17mm 3.1g

SR-1694

The word "Quadrans" is also translated "Penny" in the ESV and "Farthing" in the KJV, but it is an entirely different coin than the Assarion referenced above.

"Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison.

Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny." Matthew 5:25-26

TYRE

LOCAL ISSUE OF THE

JERUSALEM MINT

SILVER SHEKEL

AD 4-5

24mm 13.8g

Hendin-1620

Every adult male Jew owed a tax for the upkeep of the Temple and Priesthood. This tax could only be paid using Shekels of Tyre. If you wanted to pay your tax, but had other coins, they could be exchanged (for a fee) near the Temple for the acceptable coinage. Because the Shekels of Tyre were commonly used in the Temple, it is assumed that the Thirty Pieces of Silver paid to Judas to betray Jesus, consisted of these coins.

"Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests

and said, 'What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?' And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.

And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him." Matthew 26:14-16

ROMAN EMPIRE

DOMITIAN

SILVER DENARIUS

AD 90-91

19mm 3.4g

SR-2734v

The writings of the Apostle John consist of a Gospel, three epistles and Revelation. These were the last books to be added to the Canon of Scripture and it is believed that they were all written near the end of the reign of Domitian. In Revelation, John foretells a time when the wages of a full day of work (a Denarius) would only buy enough food (a quart of wheat or three quarts of barley) to keep one person alive.

"And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, 'A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!"' Revelation 6:6