This small bronze Roman coin issued under the rule of Alexander Jannaeus (103-76 BC), a descendent of Judas Maccabee. The proper Greek name is lepton for any coin with similar size. It is also known as a prutah. Jewish leptons often show defects of hasty mintage methods. The obverse is stamped with Basileos Alexandroy "King Alexander" around an anchor. The reverse is stamped with a wheel with 8-ray like spokes surrounded by diadem. The Hebrew inscription "Yehonatan the king" is between the rays. This coin was used during Jesus' lifetime passing from hand to hand in and around the city of Jerusalem. The lepton (or Prutah) is commonly called the "Widow's Mite" and was a coin of very little value.
| "Widow's Mite" coins | |
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