You are bidding on an original and authentic “widow’s mite, bronze prutah of King Alexander Janneus (103-76BC). The obverse BASILEO ALEXANDROY (King Alexander) anchor upside dwon in a circle. On the reverse star of eight rays surrounded by a diadem. This was the smallest denomination of the time.
Material | Country / Origin | Weight | Measurments |
Bronze | Jewish | 0.4 grams | 13mm |
The Story of the Widow's Mites
"As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in her two mites. "Truly I tell you," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." (Luke 21:1-4)
The Christian lesson of the widow's mites, as relayed in Luke (21:1-4) and Mark (12:41-44), is an enduring testament to the value of faith. A destitute widow has only a few mites to her name, and those she gave selflessly as her donation to the Temple. (Mites were ancient pennies, fairly worthless at the time). Jesus comments that her modest gift was worth more than the ostentatious contributions of the wealthy, for her mites represented all that she had. This virtuous woman had demonstrated true Christian faith in God -- she could not know from where her next meal would come, but she believed that He would provide for her.
"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things (food, clothes, all material needs) will be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)
The Gospel of Mark specifies that two mites (Greek lepta) are together worth a quadrans, the smallest Roman coin. A lepton was the smallest and least valuable coin in circulation in Palestine, worth about three minutes of an average daily wage.
In the story, a widow donates two small coins, while wealthy people donate much more. Jesus explains to his disciples that the small sacrifices of the poor mean more to God than the extravagant donations of the rich.
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