In the A.V., in several passages of the New Test., “penny,” either alone or in the compound “pennyworth,” occurs as the rendering of the Greek δηνάριον, a transfer of the name of the Roman denarius (Matthew 18:28; 20:2,9,13; 22:19; Mark 6:37; 12:15; 14:5; Luke 7:41; 10:35; 20:24; John 6:7; 12:5; Revelation 6:6). It took its name from its being first equal to ten “n asses,” a number afterwards increased to sixteen. The earliest specimens are of about the commencement of the 2d century B.C. From this time it was the principal silver coin of the commonwealth. It continued to hold the same position under the empire until long after the close of the New Testament canon. In the time of Augustus eighty-four denarii were struck from the pound of silver, which would make the standard weight about 60 grains. This Nero reduced by striking ninety-six from the pound, which would give a standard weight of about 52 grains, results confirmed by the coins of the periods, which are, however, not exactly true to the standard. The drachm of the Attic talent, which from the reign of Alexander until the Roman domination was the most important Greek standard, had, by gradual reduction, become equal: to the denarius of Augnstus, so that the two coins came to be regarded as identical. Under. the same emperor the Roman coin superseded the Greek, and many of the few cities which yet struck silver money took for it the form and general character of the denarius, and of its half, the quinarius. In Palestine in the New Test. period, we learn from numismatic evidence, that denarii must have mainly formed the silver currency. It is therefore probable that in the New Test, by (δραχμή and ἀργύριον, both rendered in the A.V. “piece of silver,” we are to understand the denarius. SEE DRACHMA. The δίδραχμον of the tribute (Matthew 17:24) was probably in the time of our Savior not a current coin, like the στατήρ mentioned in the same passage (ver. 27). SEE MONEY. From the parable of the laborers in the vineyard it would seem that a denarius was then the ordinary pay for a day’s labor (Matthew 20:2,4,7,9-10,13). The term denarius aureus (Pliny 34:17; 37:3) is probably a corrupt designation for the aureus
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Author: McClintock and Strong Cyclopedia
Keywords: Penny
Bible reference(s): John 12:5, John 6:7, Luke 10:35, Luke 20:24, Luke 7:41, Mark 12:15, Mark 14:5, Mark 6:37, Matthew 17:24, Matthew 18:28, Matthew 20:2, Matthew 22:19, Revelation 6:6
Source: John McClintock and James Strong, Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature.
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.