λεπτός: a mite, the smallest coin
κοδράντης: 1 quadrans = 2 λεπτά
ἀσσάριον: 1 assarion = 4 quadrans
δηνάριον: 1 denarius = 16 assarii or 64 quadrans
ὀβολός: 1 drachma = 5 obols
δραχμή: 1 drachma = 1 denarius
δίδραχμον: 1 double-drachma = 2 denarius
στατήρ: 1 stater = 4 denarii
μνᾶ: 1 mina = 60 denarii
τάλαντον: 1 talent = 60 minas or 3600 denarii
λεπτός(Lk 12:59; 21:2; Mark 12:42)
κοδράντης (Mark 12:42; Matt 5:26)
ἀσσάριον (Matt 10:29; Luke 12:6)
ὀβολός (Ex 30:13; Lev 27:25; Num 3:47; 18:16; 1Sam 2:36; Prov 17:6; Ezek 45:12)
δηνάριον (Matt 18:28; 20:2,9,10,13; 22:19; Mark 6:37; 12:15; 14:5; Luke 7:41; 10:35; 20:24; John 6:7; 12:5; Rev 6:6)
δραχμή (Luke 15:8,9)
δίδραχμον (Matt 17:24)
στατήρ (Matt 17:27)
μνᾶ (Luke 19:13,16,18,20,24,25)
τάλαντον (Matt 18:24; 25:15,16,20,22,24,25,28)
If a denarius = a labourer's daily wage (e.g., $80 or $128) (Matt. 20:2) then
| Coin | $80/day Pay | $128/day Pay |
|---|---|---|
| λεπτός | $.62 | $1.00 |
| κοδράντης | $1.25 | $2.00 |
| ἀσσάριον | $5.00 | $8.00 |
| ὀβολός | $16.00 | $25.60 |
| δηνάριον | $80 | $128 |
| δραχμή | $80 | $128 |
| δίδραχμον | $160 | $256 |
| στατήρ | $320 | $512 |
| μνᾶ | $4800 | $7,680 |
| τάλαντον | $288,000 | $460,800 |
The widow's meagre donation of 2 leptas would be worth $2.00 which amount was not mere pennies as some translations suggest. It could still be enough to purchase a little bit of food.
Two sparrows sold for $8.00 (Matt 10:29) or five sparrows sold for $16.00 (Luke 12:6).
The servants in Luke 19 were each given ten minas ($76,800), one doubled his money and brought back $153,600; one got half again as much and brought back $115,200; and the last didn't invest the money and brought back only the initial amount.
A woman had ten δραχμή worth an equivalent of $1280, but she lost one worth $128. Of course she swept the floor looking for it (Luke 15:8,9).
The coin that Peter found in the mouth of the fish would be worth $512, and would pay the tax of a double-drachma (δίδραχμον) for both Peter and Jesus (Matt 17:24, 27).
In Matt. 18, one man owed 10,000 talents which would be worth $4,608,000,000. Although he was initially forgiven such a great amount, he didn't know that being forgiven requires granting forgiveness. The other man owed only 100 denarii which would be equivalent to $12,800.
Another man left money on loan to his servants (Matt 25). The first was given five talents ($2,304,000) and he doubled his money. The second was given two talents ($921,600) and also doubled his money. But the man who was given one talent ($460,800) hid his money and should have at least banked his money to receive some interest on it.
Apparently the disciples calculated that 200 denarii ($25,600) would not buy enough for feeding 5000 men and their families, which is about $5 per family (Mark 6:37; John 6:7).
At the house of Simon the leper, Jesus was anointed with fragrant oil that could have been sold for 300 denarii ($38,400) and given to the poor (Mark 14:5; John 12:5).
Jesus asked about the depth of love when one man was forgiven 500 denarii ($64,000) while the other was forgiven 50 denarii ($6,400), (Luke 7:41).
The good Samaritan prepaid the hotel bill with two denarii ($256) (Luke 10:35).
According to Rev 6:6, the price of goods will rise so high that a litre of wheat would sell for $128, and three litres of barley would sell for $128.