penny

A word that occurs four times in the NRSV to indicate a coin of little value. In (Matt 5:26 and Mark 12:42) the term “penny” is used for a Roman quadrans, which was worth 1⁄40 of a denarius (or about 1⁄40 of a typical day’s wage). In (Matt 10:29), the term is used for a Roman assarion, which was worth 1⁄10 of a denarius, and in (Luke 12:59), it is used for a Roman lepton, which was worth half a quadrans, or 1⁄80 of a denarius.