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Lead Widow’s Mite Coins
These lead “tokens” were issued by King Alexander Jannaeus around 78 BC. The lead coins had very similar markings as were issued on the lepton widow’s mite coins, such as the anchor with a full solid circle or dots without lines similar but different to the lepton star images. Most lead pieces have images on just one side only.
It is believed that these lead pieces were issued as food tokens. Not many years before (90 to 85 BC), a bloody civil war had raged Judaea betwen the Saducees (party supporting King Jannaeus) and the Pharisees. Following the war, the King adopted a more benevolent policy toward the rival Pharisees. One method to ingrate onself was to offer gifts. As was also done by Roman emperors, it is believed that King Alexander Jannaeus issued these lead “tesserae” tokens to the people to be redeemed for food or other commodities.
For more detailed history, see David Hendin’s book “Guide to Biblical Coins”
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