Coins of the New Testament

This is another great article written by Wayne Jackson. It's copied here from the Christian Courier of May, 1982. The paper was published by the East Main Street Church of Christ in Stockton, California and was edited by Jackson.

The writers of the Greek New Testament employed some seven different terms for various denominations of coinage used in the ancient Biblical world. An understanding of these terms greatly enhances our appreciation for numerous New Testament passages.

Drachme - A drachme was a Greek silver coin worth approximately 18 or 19 cents. The term is used in only one New Testament context. The Lord told a parable of a woman who had ten drachmas; she lost one of them but searched diligently until she found it (Luke 15:8-9). The drachme was not an insignificant amount. According to one ancient Greek writer (300 B.C.), it was the equivalent to the price of one sheep or one fifth of an ox. It was thus a great loss to this woman and aptly depicts the value of even one soul (cf. Matthew 16:26).

Didrachmon - The didrachman was two drachmas, thus worth about 36 cents. It was the coin generally used by the Jews for payment of the yearly temple tax. This regulation was derived from the atonement money prescribed in Exodus 30:11-16, which according to Jewish tradition, later developed into an annual poll tax which every male Jew above the age of twenty was required to pay each March. When Christ and the disciples came to Capernaum, those responsible for the collection of that tax asked Peter, "Does not your teacher (Jesus) pay the didrachma?" Peter replied that the Lord did pay that tax.

Stater - Subsequently in the context just cited, Christ instructed Peter to go to the sea (of Galilee), cast a hook and in the mouth of the first fish caught, he would find a stater and with that the apostle was to pay the temple tax for himself and for the Lord (Matthew 17:27). The stater is mentioned by name only here in the New Testament. It was a silver coin equal to two didrachmas and therefore worth approximately 72 to 80 cents.

It is believed by most scholars that the stater was used in paying Judas for his betrayal of Christ, thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15; 27:3-5) and if that is correct then the Lord was sold for about $22 to $24. One wonders why such a paltry sum (cf. the price of a slave in Exodus 21:32). Surely Judas could have gotten more as badly as the Jewish leaders wanted Christ. And why did he return those coins? In his interesting book The Training of the Twelve, Professor A. B. Bruce makes a strong case that other motives besides coventousness had also invaded the heart of Judas Iscariot (Chapter xxiii).

Denarion - The denarius was a silver Roman coin about the size of a dime. It was worth about 18 cents and is mentioned in the New Testament 15 times. It contained an inscription of the Roman emperor; in the case of the tribute money which the Pharisees showed to Jesus in an attempt to trap Him, Augustus Caesar. Note: Archaeologists have found originals with inscriptions representing all twelve of the Roman emperors, Augustus to Nerva. This coin represented the average daily wages for the Palestinean working man (cf. Matthew 20:2, 9-10, 13).

Shortly before He performed the miracle of feeding the five thousand, the Lord, testing Philip asked, "Where are we to find bread that these may eat?" Philip replied that not even two hundred denarii ($36) would be sufficient for such a crowd (John 6:7; cf. Mark 6:37). Was Philip suggesting the amount that was in the disciples' treasury box (cf. John 12:5-6)? If so, such may indicate that the disciples' work in helping the poor was much larger than many have suspected.

About a week before His death, Jesus came to Bethany, to the home of Lazarus, Marth and Mary. While He was there, Mary took a pound of precious ointment and with it annointed her Master's head and feet (Matthew 26:7; Mark 14:3). Judas complained about such "waste" suggesting that it could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii with the proceeds going to the poor. Judas, the thief, considered himself to be one of the chief among the poor (John 12:5-6)! By the way, his influence affected the other disciples (cf. Matthew 26:8; Mark 14:4). But Mary's gift was lavishly bestowed in love, perhaps in thanksgiving for Lazarus' restoration (note the "therefore" in John 12:3). Her gift of devotion represented a year's wages for the Jewish laborer! This may be an indication that the Lord's friends of Bethany were fairly prosperous. Wealth does not necessarily exclude piety (cf. Genesis 13:2; Job 1).

When the good Samaritan left the wounded stranger at the inn for further care, he gave the inn keeper two denarii (two days' wages) and instructed the host to care for him and when he returned, if need be, the extra cost would be supplied. Theh cost of a day's board in that day was about one twelth of a denarius (cf. J. Jeremias, Jerusalem in the Time of Christ, 1969, p. 122). Accordingly, the benevolent Samaritan provided more than three weeks lodging for that injured stranger. That is love in action! (Cf. Luke 10:35).

Assarion - The assarion was a Roman copper coin that was worth 1/16 of a denarius. Hence, a shade over 1 cent. It is mentioned twice in the New Testament. In a marvelous passage that underscores God's providential interest in His people, Christ asked, "Are not two sparrows sold for an assarion? and not one of them shall fall on the ground without your Father..." (Matthew 10:29). Sparrows were common items of food in the first century and they were inexpensive; two for a penny or five for two cents (Luke 12:6). If therefore, God is not unmindful of a creature so commerically cheap, how much more is He concerned for His people! What a thrilling concept. How great is our God!

Kodrantes - The kondrantes is the smallest of the Roman coins. It was worth about 1/4 cent. Jesus refers to this coin in a figurative sense in Matthew 5:26 where He instructs His disciples to reconcile with their adversaries while there is yet time. For if they neglect to do so, they may through proper legal channels, be cast into prison (cf. Matthew 18:30, 34) there to remain until the last kodranten is paid. The Savior stresses the urgency of making things right while opportunity prevails.

Roman Catholic theology argues that the "prison" (5:25) is purgatory. Hence, those expiating their sins may leave as soon as the lastd fractional amount of their punishment is paid. But the doctrine simply doesn't fit the Scripture. Romanism contends that people living on earth may work for the deliverance of those in purgatory, while Christ says will not leave their place of punishment, "until thou has paid..." And anyone familiar with the penal systems of antiquity knows that that means never!

Lepton - The lepton was the smallest of coins; a tiny copper worth about 1/2 of a kondrantes (Mark 12:42) or by our standards, 1/8 of a cent. The term is mentioned three times in the New Testament (Mark 12:42; Luke 12:59; 21:2). The lepton was a Jewish coin, generally engraved with religious or agricultural scenes, unlike the Roman coins which were designed with Caesar's inscription (Matthew 22:20) or with pagan symbols. The lepton could therefore, be deposited directly into the temple treasury (Mark 12:41), whereas the Roman coins could not be. Hence, money changers made a handsome profit, some 12%, converting Roman coinage into silver (cf. John 2:14; Matthew 21:12).

In Mark 12:41ff, Christ was in the temple's court of the women, wherein thirteen treasury boxes were located. He was watching (the imperfect tense verb stresses a sustained observation) the multitude as they cast money into the coffers. Presently, there came a poor widow who cast in two lepta. The Lord calaled His disciples to Him and commented upon the dear lady's generosity. Whereas others had given out of their abundance, she contributed out of her want. Indeed, she had given her entire living. And her entire substance was approximately 1/72 of a daily wage. She could only afford one half of one sparrow at the market had she been disposed to feast that day! But she was consumed with devotion to God and so gave all she had. Her copper coins were gold that day! God does not of course, require that we give everything we have into His treasury but He surely accepted her gift. That generous gift has been blessing countless thousands by her example, across twenty centuries of time.

One needs to be familiar with the social, cultural, economic conditions if the full richness of the New Testament record is to bless his life. Many great lessons can be learned from the Bible, even from something as seemingly insignificant as a coin.