According to Mark 12v42, the widow gives “2 very
small copper coins” (NIV), 2 lepta in
the Greek.
The lepta was the smallest coinage in circulation –
so we might compare it to an offering of 2p.
Mark says (v42) a lepton is a quadrans - the equivalent
Roman coin, which the NIV says is “worth only a fraction of a penny”.
James R. Edwards (Pillar Commentary on Mark) says a
lapton was 1/64th of a denarius.
A denarius was the standard wage for a day’s labour
(Mt 20:8-10).
Say a labourer is paid £7.25 and hour, making the
daily wage £54.25
£7.25 X 7 = daily wage of £54.25
So we might guess that the widow’s offering would be worth roughly £1.70
today
£54.25 X (2/64) = £1.70
Though
that might not be quite the point.
Jesus
says her offering was worth more than all the others (v43).
“They
all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything –
all she had to live on.” (v44)
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