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

Description

Ancient Judaean Widow's Mite and Crucifixion Period Roman Nail in Display Frame
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 4" X 4" X 1.5" and it has a stong 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.
RefID= BU77984
Price is for one set in frame and one certificate of authenticity. Image is sample/stock photo. Please expect some variation in size and color of the coin and nail as these items were hand-made in antiquity and have spent thousands of years in the ground. No two are alike. Items you receive will be of comparable quality to those shown in the image. Limited quantities available.
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