Denomination:  Bronze Prutah

Dates:  103 – 76 B.C.

Description:

 Obverse:  Anchor with Greek inscription (Alexander the King)

 Reverse:  Star of eight rays, Yehonatan the King written in Hebrew between the rays  

 Alexander Janneus, nephew of Simon and Judah Maccabee, minted this bronze Prutah.  He became ruler of the Jews in 103 B.C. and was  young and ambitious  ruler. This coin is also symbolic in the history of Christianity and mentioned in the book of Luke in the new testimony. 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 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.”