Throughout the Bible, money and coins play a major role in the teachings of Christianity.
In his new book, Money of the Bible, author and historian Kenneth Bressett examines the connection between scripture and numismatics.
“No fewer than 16 of the 40 parables preached by Jesus mention coins or money,” said Bressett.
Perhaps best known as the longtime editor of Whitman Publishing’s annual Red Book, Bressett has also researched and written about ancient Greek and Roman coins, among other topics.
He presented the story of Money of the Bible at the Whitman Coin and Collectibles Atlanta Expo on Oct. 8.
“At a time when there were no other means of mass communication, coins served as the newspapers of the day,” said Bressett. “They spread the word about kings, emperors, wars, and current events. The images on ancient coins carried messages that educated and informed those who came in contact with them.”
Expo visitors who attended Bressett’s presentation received a free copy of his latest title, presented as a full-color coffee-table book.
The author also displayed examples of Bible-related coins from his personal collection, including a Widow’s Mite, shekels that were changed in the Temple, a Tribute penny, and a tetradrachm coin of the type paid to Judas for his betrayal of Jesus. The photos in the book show close-ups of pieces from Bressett’s own collection.
“Ken is a wonderful storyteller,” said Dennis Tucker, publisher of Whitman Publishing. “His work is scholarly, and goes into detailed depth, but it’s also very accessible for beginning collectors.”
