Presenter view · Grades 3–4 · Real or Replica? · Coins as evidence

Coin Detectives

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Before you start

Learning objectives

By the end of this lesson you will be able to:

read an ancient coin as evidence: who made it, when, and what it helps show
use the clues experts use to tell a genuine coin from a fake
put the coins of the New Testament in time order
Go deeperexplain why a genuine coin is stronger evidence for the Gospel than a replica

Why this matters A coin made by a real ruler, in a real year, is a witness. It helps show that the Gospel happened in real places, among real people.

Materials

Real or Replica? projected
Magnifying glasses, if you have them
A modern coin; page 3 of this plan
Differentiated handouts, one per student

On the classroom screen

MIn Their HandsCoin Detectives

Lesson · Grades 3–4 · Real or Replica? · Coins as evidence

Coin Detectives

Why this matters

A coin made by a real ruler, in a real year, is a witness. It helps show that the Gospel happened in real places, among real people.

By the end of this lesson you will be able to:

read an ancient coin as evidence: who made it, when, and what it helps show
use the clues experts use to tell a genuine coin from a fake
put the coins of the New Testament in time order
Go deeperexplain why a genuine coin is stronger evidence for the Gospel than a replica

James Tissot (1836–1902), Brooklyn Museum

Up next

How do you know it’s real? 5 min

Hold up a modern coin. “How do you know this coin is real and not a toy?” Take answers: the weight, the shine, the words, where it came from. Then show the coin of Pontius Pilate on page 3. “The man who put Jesus on trial had this coin made. An expert says it is real. Today you are the expert.”

Ready

40:00

Questions to ask in front of the case

What clues on this coin tell you it was struck by hand?
Why would a Roman governor put a ladle used in pagan worship on a coin for Jewish people to spend?
Some people once doubted Pilate was real. What does this coin say to them?
Luke 3:1 names Pilate. How does it change the way you hear the Gospel to know his coins still exist?

Learning objectives

By the end of this lesson you will be able to:

read an ancient coin as evidence: who made it, when, and what it helps show

use the clues experts use to tell a genuine coin from a fake

put the coins of the New Testament in time order

Go deeperexplain why a genuine coin is stronger evidence for the Gospel than a replica

Why this matters A coin made by a real ruler, in a real year, is a witness. It helps show that the Gospel happened in real places, among real people.