Obverse of bronze Widow's Mite prutah, showing an anchor
Reverse of bronze Widow's Mite prutah, showing an eight-rayed star within a diadem
Bronze Widow's Mite prutah in a display case, anchor obverse facing up
Obverse of bronze Widow's Mite prutah, showing an anchor
Reverse of bronze Widow's Mite prutah, showing an eight-rayed star within a diadem
Bronze Widow's Mite prutah in a display case, anchor obverse facing up

The Widow's Mite (Alexander Yannai) Bronze Prutah

Authentic OriginalAUTHENTIC ORIGINAL

Minted in Jerusalem by King Alexander Jannaeus (103-76 BCE), this bronze prutah is the first Judean coin to feature both Greek and Paleo-Hebrew inscriptions. Historians identify it as the biblical "Widow's Mite."

The design features an anchor on the obverse and an eight-rayed star within a diadem on the reverse, deliberately avoiding human portraits to comply with Jewish law. Manually struck, each coin uniquely varies in its shape and centering.

This coin is a genuine piece of daily life from Second Temple Jerusalem. Owning it allows you to hold the actual currency used by the people who lived, traded, and worshipped in the ancient city.

Variants

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Bronze
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The Story

Alexander Jannaeus governed Judea from 103 to 76 BCE, expanding the Hasmonean Kingdom to the Mediterranean coast. To support this growing economy, he minted bronze prutot. These coins were the first in Judea to feature both Greek and Paleo-Hebrew inscriptions, reflecting a society influenced by Hellenistic trade but rooted in Jewish tradition.

Jannaeus was also the first Hasmonean ruler to declare himself "King" on his currency. This title, combined with his embrace of Greek culture and his role as High Priest, angered traditionalist Jews. This tension famously erupted during the festival of Sukkot in 90 BCE, sparking a bitter civil war.

"As he stood beside the altar and was about to sacrifice, they pelted him with citrons... and they added insult to injury by saying that he was unfit to hold office." - Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews (1st Century CE)

Despite this unrest, Jannaeus's bronze coins became a staple of the Judean economy. Because of their high production volume, they remained in everyday circulation well into the first century CE. Functioning as the lowest denomination accepted at the Second Temple in Jerusalem, they perfectly align with the New Testament account of a poor widow donating her last two coins, earning them the enduring legacy of the "Widow's Mite."

"A poor widow also came and put in two small coins... For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood." - Mark 12:42-44

Obverse of bronze Widow's Mite prutah, showing an anchor Reverse of bronze Widow's Mite prutah, showing an eight-rayed star within a diadem

The Symbols

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Bordered by a Greek inscription translating to "of King Alexander," the anchor marks the Hasmonean expansion to the Mediterranean coast.

Every coin includes a Certificate of Authenticity backed by the expertise of a government-authorized antiquities dealer.

The certificate provides documented context for the piece, featuring details such as:

  • A formal declaration guaranteeing the item as a genuine antiquity.
  • Historical background on the era, the ruler who minted the coin, and the historical climate of the time.
  • A numismatic description detailing the coin's denomination and minting dates.
  • Explanations of the specific motifs and symbols featured on the coin.
  • Translations of any relevant ancient inscriptions where applicable.

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