| If you are interested in History and Religion, then | | | | Getting up to date, two names stand out in |
| collecting Biblical Coins might be a great and | | | | terms of popular books on Biblical Coins, Ya'akov |
| surprisingly inexpensive hobby to consider. If you | | | | Meshorer and David Hendin |
| are unfamiliar with collecting coins, you might be | | | | The Guide to Biblical Coins 4th Edition, David |
| surprised to hear that you can buy a widows | | | | Hendin, 2001 at approx $90 is the default |
| mite, as mentioned in the Christian Bible for | | | | standard, and if you only buy one book on the |
| around the same price as a CD or DVD. | | | | subject, make it this one. It is a well-presented |
| Widows Mites are quite small bronze coins, usually | | | | richly illustrated catalogue of just over 550 coins, |
| green or brown in appearance with an anchor on | | | | all with a unique and widely quoted reference |
| one side and a wheel with ray like spokes on the | | | | number. |
| other, together with Hebrew inscription 'Yehonatan | | | | Ya'akov Meshorer wrote many books and papers |
| the King'. They were made by the ruthless king | | | | on the subject of Biblical coins, the last one before |
| of Judea, Alexander Jannaeus around 2100 years | | | | he died becoming an award-winning book is: |
| ago, in such large quantities that many survive to | | | | A Treasury of Jewish Coins, 2001 approx $90 |
| this day. | | | | These two excellent books are very different in |
| Our knowledge of these and many other Biblical | | | | style and format, but richly illustrate life and the |
| coins has developed over time, and gradually the | | | | money that was used in Biblical times. |
| study of such coins resulted in the publication of | | | | There are many other books on the subject, |
| books specifically dealing with Biblical coins. One of | | | | often selling for around the $20 range, by people |
| the first and still one of the best, although a little | | | | like Rev Edgar Rogers, Florence Aiken Banks, |
| outdated and inaccurate in places is: | | | | Kenneth Jacob and RS Yeoman. While these are |
| The History of Jewish Coinage and of Money in | | | | worth a look, and all have value, they do not |
| the Old and New Testaments, Frederick W | | | | represent that rounded catalogues of the above |
| Madden (1864) | | | | books. |
| This Contains lots of line drawings and much | | | | There are many new books promised too that |
| historical information on each coin. Original copies | | | | you should look out for, an updated book from |
| are expensive ($200+), but a reprint from | | | | David Hendin, and a new publication from Richard |
| Pegasus Publishing, dated 1967, is readily available | | | | Plant, provisionally titled 'A numismatic journey |
| for about $20 and is highly recommended. | | | | through the Bible'. |