I have already mentioned in previous posts David Hendin’s book: Guide to Biblical Coins and if you begin to get serious about collecting this type of coinage this is the text you need. But if you just want to do some background reading on the topic I will mention in my next posts some books that I have found helpful when it comes to Biblical Coins.

James Lovette’s book is called Biblical Related Coins.  I have only seen hardcover copies and you can find it offered for around $25.  This book contains three chapters. Chapter 1: Deals with coins from PLACES in the Bible. Chapter 2: Deals with coins of PEOPLE mentioned in the Bible. Chapter 3: Is titled “THINGS” but actually deals with a variety of issues – more like “Themes” such as various coin denominations, Jewish Revolt coins, various types of tax and coins used to pay them, etc.  It was this book that helped me understand some of the many different types of coins possible for an individual scripture text.

I should note that this is not a book you would “read” from cover to cover.   It is more like a collection of information about hundreds of different topics and each section is supported with photos of coins that fit with the text.

On page 199 Lovette gives some ideas for collecting. Let me mention a few that piqued my interest when I was first getting into this hobby.

• Jewish Rulers — Family Lines (example Herod & sons)
• Roman Procurators of Judea
• Roman Emperors during the Biblical period
• Jewish Revolt coins
• Judea Capta Coins
• Widow’s Mite possibilities
• “30 pieces of silver” possibilities
• Coins from each place visited by Paul

The style of this gold coin should be very familiar. It is similar to the silver denarius coin that is commonly referred to as the “Tribute Penny.”  This coin has a scratch mark through the portrait of Tiberius showing that someone was making sure it was not a counterfeit. It also has a bankers mark - in this case a “c” above the head of Tiberius. Bankers marks were put on to verify that the coin was authentic. There are many different types of bankers marks, some are letters and others are symbols. 

I should note that some New Testament translations will make reference to gold coins in Luke 19:13.  The actual word used in this text  is “minas.”   A “mina” is not a coin denomination nor is it specifically a reference to gold.  It is a weight and is meant to represent the amount of silver found in 50 shekels.  (Side note here: I have also seen references that say a “mina” equals 60 shekels and in another place equals a 100 drachmas – I am not sure if the weight ratio changed over time and will continue to read more about this and update this post as I find out more information)

Ruler: Tiberius
Date: 14-37AD
Denomination: Aureus
Obverse: Tiberius r.
Reverse: Livia
Reference: Sear 1760

People were aware that there were counterfeit coins being made in ancient times. They knew that one of the most common methods being used was to put a silver coating on a bronze coin. So to protect themselves they would make a “test cut” into the coin to make sure the metal was pure beyond the surface. Usually this would be a rather simple scrape but below you can see one that was a rather radical cut into the coin. The result was, in this case, good for the person doing the test because it proved that the coin was pure silver, but sad news for future ancient coin collectors because a beautiful coin was now damaged.  Among the coins I have seen with this “test cut” it is usually the Athenian Owls that seem to have the deepest cuts. 

I find the “test cut” coin imagery powerful because it points directly to the fact that value is found in what is beneath the surface. Even though a coin is not mentioned in Matt 23:27 the message is the same with the reference to whitewashed tombs – nice on the outside but…  Here the stress is that true spirituality is found under the surface, that deep down to the core we are in harmony with who we say we are. It becomes important that we “test cut” ourselves with an examination of conscience as we would “test cut” our coins to ensure their value.

City: Attica, Athens
Date: after 449BC
Demonination: Tetradrachm
Obverse: Athena
Reverse: Owl
Reference: SNG Copenhagen 31

In my last post of 4/25/09 I showed a “Fouree” Coin, meaning a “counterfeit.”  In this post I show what the “genuine” coin looks like.  This is a denarius coin of Augustus and on the reverse we see his sons Gaius and Lucius.  It should be noted that this style coin has been found in Judea.  It could therefore be considered a reasonable alternate for the Tribute Coin – meaning an alternate for the Tiberius denarius that is usually offered by coin dealers.  I have already shown under the Widow’s Mite posts that there are many possible coins that could be considered for that text. In the same way there are alternates for the Tribute Coin though not as many since the denarius was a rare coin in Judea. 

Ruler: Augustus
Date: 4BC-6AD
Denomination: Denarius
Obverse: Augustus
Reverse: Gaius & Lucius
Reference:  Sear 1597

I will now list the coins that are found in the Money Changers Exhibit. Many of these coins I have blogged about already so I will make a cross reference to the date I discussed that particular coin. There is a section called “Moneychangers” under the “Categories” section to the right and if you push that category it will gather these coins on one page to make them easier to find and read about.

Coins in “Money Changers Exhibit“

Lead Prutah   6/17/08

Widows Mite (Alexander Yannai)  6/15/08

Herod Antipas  5/14/08

Herod Archelaus  4/26/08

Herod the Great  4/13/08

Pontius Pilate  3/21/08

Shekel of Tyre  3/16/08

Byblos  4/12/09

Augustus/Agrippa  4/13/09

Tribute Coin (Tiberius)  4/15/09

Aretas IV  4/19/09

Fouree Coin (Augustus) 4/25/09