What is the widow’s mite coin?
The “widow’s mite” is the name given to a very small bronze coin of ancient Judea. The phrase comes from a Gospel story in which Jesus watches people giving money at the Temple treasury in Jerusalem and praises a poor widow who gives two small coins. The story appears in Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4.
The “mite” of older English translations renders the Greek word lepton (plural lepta), the smallest coin in circulation. In Mark’s account the widow gives two lepta, and the text adds that together they make a quadrans, a small Roman coin. The Hebrew term often used for the Judean small bronze is prutah.
Which coin was the widow’s mite?
No coin can be tied to the widow herself. What collectors call widow’s mites are small bronze coins that circulated in Judea in the first century. The most commonly sold examples were struck by the Hasmonean ruler Alexander Jannaeus, who reigned from about 103 to 76 BC. They remained in use for generations, so they plausibly passed through hands in Jesus’s time. Other small coins, including later bronzes of the Roman prefects, are also sometimes sold under this name.
Common features of the Jannaeus type include:
- Obverse or reverse: An anchor, a symbol borrowed from the Seleucid kings who preceded the Hasmoneans.
- Other side: A star or wheel-like design with rays, often described as an eight-rayed star.
- Inscription: Text naming the king, in Greek and sometimes in Hebrew script, though many specimens are too worn or off-center to read.
- Size and quality: Typically very small, roughly the size of a small modern coin or smaller, and often crudely struck.
Because these coins were cheap to produce and used for everyday change, most are worn, off-center or partly corroded.
Widow’s mite value
Genuine widow’s mites are among the least expensive authentic ancient coins. Dealers commonly list ordinary examples for roughly tens of dollars, with figures such as $25 to $70 seen at established retailers, depending on condition and clarity. Prices are higher for coins with a clearly visible design, a centered strike and a full legend, or for an uncommon variety. Coins sold with a certificate or encapsulated by a grading service may cost more.
Replica sets are widely sold for a few dollars. These are souvenirs, not ancient coins, and the two should never be confused when buying or selling. Even a genuine mite is unlikely to become a major investment, so it makes sense to treat it as a piece of history.
How to spot a genuine widow’s mite
- Surface and patina: Authentic bronzes have natural patina and corrosion that is hard to fake convincingly.
- Strike: Ancient flans are irregular with off-center strikes; perfectly round, uniform coins deserve scrutiny.
- Source: Buy from dealers who guarantee authenticity and publish clear photographs.
- Price: A very low price may signal a replica, while claims of rare “Jesus-era” provenance at high prices should be checked.
For a broader introduction to how ancient coins are examined, see our Roman coin identifier guide.
Is it legal to own ancient coins like the widow’s mite?
In most places, owning and trading common ancient coins is legal, and they are sold openly by dealers and auction houses. But rules can differ by country, especially on export, import and finds made in the ground. Some countries restrict the removal of antiquities or require reporting of finds. If you are buying across borders, check the rules that apply to you and ask the seller about the coin’s documented history. In the UK, for instance, finds are subject to the reporting framework described in our article on identifying Roman coins found in the UK. This is general information rather than legal advice.
Why the widow’s mite still matters
The story is often read as a lesson about generosity: the value of a gift is measured by sacrifice rather than size. For collectors, the coin is a tangible link to that story, and a common entry point into biblical numismatics. Other coins tied to the Gospels, such as the denarius and the Tyrian shekel, are covered in our pillar article on Roman coins from the time of Jesus.