Alexander Jannaeus (103–76 BC) Judaea AE Prutah NGC Ancient Widow's Mite (Promo)

Alexander Jannaeus Bronze Prutah — The Story Behind the Widow's Mite

This ancient Judaean bronze belongs to the coinage most traditionally associated with the biblical Widow's Mite. It offers a connection to the monetary world of the Holy Land while also telling a much earlier story: that of Alexander Jannaeus and the Hasmonean kingdom.

Coin Details

• Ruler: Alexander Jannaeus
• Reign: 103–76 BC; the exact issue year is not specified
• Kingdom/region: Hasmonean Judaea
• Denomination: Prutah
• Composition: Bronze (AE)
• Selection tier: Promo; a product selection tier, not an NGC-assigned grade
• NGC grade: No numerical or adjectival grade is specified for this offering
• Quantity supplied: One encapsulated coin

Alexander Jannaeus and His Place in Ancient History

Alexander Jannaeus ruled as both king and high priest. His campaigns expanded Hasmonean territory, but his reign also brought serious internal conflict over royal authority, religious obligations and the influence of Hellenistic culture. His coinage belongs to an independent Judaean dynasty, before Herod's rise and before the region's direct administration by Roman prefects.

These coins were produced in large numbers and continued to circulate long after their ruler's death. That extended use helps explain why coins issued well before the first century AD became associated with the Gospel accounts of the widow's offering.

What the Coin Tells Us

The familiar anchor-and-star types combine symbolic designs with royal inscriptions in Greek and Hebrew. They illustrate how the Hasmonean kingdom expressed its identity within a wider Hellenistic world. Details of the dies, lettering and centering vary between examples.

The term Widow's Mite is a traditional collecting name, not proof that a particular coin was used in the event described in Mark 12:41–44 or Luke 21:1–4. Those passages describe small coins without identifying an exact issue. Other small bronzes also circulated in Judaea, so the association should be understood as historical tradition rather than a specific provenance.

What You Will Receive

You will receive one ancient Alexander Jannaeus bronze prutah in an NGC Ancients holder, supplied in the Promo selection tier. No particular inscription, issue year or separate NGC numerical or adjectival grade is promised.

Stock-photo notice: The photographs are representative of the product offering. The coin supplied may differ from the pictured example in portrait style, reverse design, inscriptions, centering, toning, surface appearance and other individual characteristics while remaining within the stated coin type and any expressly stated grade.