HISTORY:

This coin is also known as the Widows Mite and mentioned in the New Testament. These coins are dated from 1st century BC. Alexander Janneus, nephew of Simon and Judah Maccabee, minted this bronze Prutah. He became ruler of the Jews in 103 BCE and was young and ambitious ruler.

These coins are also symbolic in the history of Christianity and mentioned in the book of Luke in the new testament. Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said "I'll tell you the truth, this poor widow put more into the treasury than all the others. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on." That is how this coin got his nickname "widow's mite"