The Two Widow’s Mite Coins

The Two Widow’s Mite Coins

These are a museum quality replica.

These two small copper coins were called “Leptons.” They were the smallest and least valuable coins in circulation in Palestine at the time of Jesus.

A “Lepton” may have been the equivalent of putting $1 in the collection basket. It represented virtually no value.

“And Jesus sat opposite the treasury and observed how the people cast in money. Many rich men cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and cast in two small coins, equal to a penny. Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said to them, Truly I say to you, This poor widow has cast in more than all those who cast in into the treasury; for all have cast in of their abundance; but she of her want has cast in all that she had, even all the living that she had.” » Gospel of Mark 12:41-44

Here Jesus admired the generous and sacrificial giving of this widow.

What is wonderful about this widow’s gift is that she had two gold coins and she gave them both. She did not keep one for herself, but she gave it with astonishing generosity because she had faith and wanted to please God.