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Ancient Judaean Widow's Mite and Crucifixion Period Roman Nail in Display Frame -- #BU77984

Attractive matte black floating frame which contains one 'Widow's Mite' coin and one iron nail made during the first century A.D. under the Roman Empire.

The 'Widow's Mite' is a small bronze coin from ancient Judaea which was minted during the Hasmonean Dynasty of 140-37 BCE. It is mentioned in the Bible in Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4:

'He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, 'Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.'

The nail comes from the Roman fortress at Inchtuthil, which was the northernmost Roman fortress in England/Scotland. It was likely commissioned in about 82 A.D. by Gnaeus Julius Agricola in his fight against the Caledonian tribes. When it was excavated in the 1950s by Sir Ian Richmond, a large pit was found in the summer of 1960 containing 875,400 complete iron nails ranging from 2-16 inches and weighing 7 tons (Inchuthil Nails by Roddy Fraser) and other iron objects, inc cartwheel rims weighing a combined total of ten tonnes. The pit was elaborately concealed, and the nails and ironwork were almost certainly buried by the troops to prevent their use in weaponsmithing by the local tribes when they dismantled the fortress before they finally left. Many of the nails were sent to museums as a gift and the rest of the hoard was sold to the public and other interested organisations with an offer of 5 shillings for an 8 to 10 inch nail and 25 shillings for a boxed set of 5 nails. Colville's (Iron and Steel refiners) who had been given the task of sorting and storing the nails state quite clearly that all the nails had been 'sorted gifted and sold' within 3 years of their discovery. C1963. (Wikipedia, Inchtuthil. Originally 'The Inchtuthil Nail Hoard'. Roman Scotland. 2008. Retrieved 2014-04-30).

While these nails could not have been used in the crucifixion of Jesus under Pontius Pilate, they are of the same type and manufacture as those that would have been used.

The frame's exterior dimensions measure 4in. X 4in. X 1.5in. and it has a strong but pliable film which secures the nail and coin in place. They can be easily removed and handled and replaced in the frame. The frame will stand nicely on your desk or bookshelf.

Each set comes with a lithograph certificate of authenticity from Harlan J Berk. Additionally, the sleeve for the frame bears an HJB Verified label.

An excellent gift for the holiday season.

$ 69.95

Spain Obulco Roman Republican period ca. 2nd Century B.C. As Good Fine -- #AC105865

AE As 29mm. 20.53g.

Female head r., X(?) behind.

Legend in two lines, plow above, ear of corn below; AID to r.
L.AIMIL / M.IVNI

SNG Copenhagen 238-40

Good Fine. Scarce. Brown patina. Many small old gouges and marks.

$ 38.00

Spain Lerida-Lower Ebro Area Kelse ca. mid-1st Century B.C. AE31 Fine -- #AC108736

AE31 31mm. 15.38g. Kelse Mint

Beardless, bare male head r., surrounded by three dolphins.
C E L

Prancing horse r., rider carrying palm.
[K]ELS[E]

SNG Copenhagen 313

Fine. Seemingly scarce. Brown patina. Some porosity.

$ 75.00

Spain Malaka (Malaga) ca. 2nd Century B.C. Quarter unit About Fine -- #AC100574

AE Quarter unit 12mm. 1.20g.

Head of Hephaistos (Vulcan) r. wearing conical cap.

Eight-rayed star.

ACIP 798

About Fine. Scarce. Brown patina. Porous.

$ 45.00

Spain Malaka (Malaga) ca. 2nd Century B.C. AE24 Near VF -- #AC108791

AE24 24mm. 9.00g.

Bearded head of Hephaistos r., wearing conical hat; neo-Punic inscription MLK' and tongs behind; all within laurel wreath.

Radiate facing bust of Helios.

ACIP 786

Near VF. Scarce. Mottled red-brown patina. Obverse weak. Some minor roughness.

$ 65.00

Spain Celtiberian Turiasu (Tarazona, Zaragoza) ca. 120-20 B.C. As About Fine -- #AC106820

AE As 25mm. 8.42g.

Bearded head r., three dolphins around, letter 'ka' behind.

Horse and rider carrying spear, r.; In ex.: TURIASU in Iberian.

SNG Copenhagen 353; ABH 2428; ACIP 1732

About Fine. Quite scarce. Brassy tan toning with dark contrast. Worn. Some pitting and porosity.

$ 55.00

Campania Suessa Aurunca ca. 300-240 B.C. AE19 VF -- #AC107640

AE19 19mm. 6.49g.

Laureate head of Apollo, l.
[SVES]ANO

Man-faced bull advancing r., head facing, crowned by Nike flying r., above; N below.

HN Italy 450; HGC 1, 511 var. (ethnic on obverse)

VF. Green patina with some brassy high points. Some porosity. Seemingly scarcer with ethnic on obverse rather than in the exergue.

$ 65.00

Apulia Southern Apulia Orra (Hyria, Oria) ca. 250-225 B.C. AE15 Good Fine -- #AC108616

AE15 15mm. 2.31g.

Young male head r., wearing crested conical helmet; [A(lambda)] behind or below.

Eagle standing r. on thunderbolt, wings close; OR above.

HN Italy 786

Good Fine. Rare. Brown patina. Mild roughness.

$ 75.00

Calabria Tarentum ca. 281-228 B.C. Nomos (Didrachm) Good Fine -- #AC102228

AR Nomos (Didrachm) 20mm. 7.20g.

Diademed head of Satyra l., wearing triple-pendant earring.

Nude youth on horseback r., placing wreath on horse's head; star above, dolphin below, TA below raised foreleg.

SNG ANS 1301

Good Fine. Patchy toning. Scarcer variety. Some patches of porosity.

Reduced from: $225

$ 200.00

Calabria Tarentum ca. 380-325 B.C. Diobol Fine -- #AC107666

AR Diobol 13mm. 0.98g.

Head of Athena r., wearing Attic helmet

Herakles standing r., lifting lion with neck grip; club behind; Z between legs.
[TARANTINWN]

HN Italy 914; HGC 1, 833 var. (letter)

Fine. Toned. Some horn silver. Listed as rarity 'R2' in HGC.

$ 65.00

Lucania Metapontion (Metapontum) ca. 330-290 B.C. Stater (Nomos) VF -- #AC98051

AR Stater (Nomos) 22mm. 7.90g.

Head of Demeter, l., wearing grain wreath.

Ear of barley, leaf to l.; tongs above leaf, AQA below; META upward on r.

HN Italy 1583; SNG ANS 458ff.; Johnston C4

VF. Lightly toned and lustrous. Softly struck with weak centers.

$ 375.00

Sicily Akragas before 406 B.C. Hexas Good Fine -- #AC79210

AE Hexas 20mm. 6.60g.

Eagle standing r. on fish.

Crab; two pellets below to l. and r.; fish below.

SNG ANS 1051

Good Fine. Dark green patina. Flan flaws on obverse.

Reduced from: $130

$ 115.00

Sicily Selinos ca. 410 B.C. Litra About Fine -- #AC102142

AR Litra 12mm. 0.59g.

Nymph seated l. on rock, outstretched r. hand grasping serpent.

Man-faced bull (Selinos) r., selinon leaf above.
SELINONTION

SNG Lloyd 1270; SNG ANS -; SNG Copenhagen -

About Fine. Rare. Lightly toned. Likely crystallized. This variety is unpublished in most major references.

Reduced from: $130

$ 115.00

Sicily Gela 420-405 B.C. Tetras Good VF -- #AC104029

AE Tetras 17mm. 3.27g.

Bull advancing r.; In ex.: three dots (mark of value)
GELAS

Horned head of river god Gelas r., flowing hair; barleycorn behind.

Calciati 17; HGC 2, 380 var. (ethnics)

Good VF. Scarce variety. Glossy dark green patina. Excellent detail despite issues. Some adhesions and minor porosity. Irregular flan. Much scarcer variety with no reverse ethnic and no barleycorn on obverse. ex. Naville auction 63, lot 45, February 2021 with ticket.