Jackson v. Biddle (Today's American History Lesson)

Originally, wealth was measured in precious metals of gold, silver, or copper.

Exodus 25:3 "And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and copper."

Items of gold, silver, or copper had to be weighed.

Shekels were placed on one side of a scale and on the other side were placed the items of gold, silver, or copper to be weighed.

The Bible admonished not cheat, Deuteronomy 25:13 "Do not have two differing weights in your bag -- one heavy, one light." (NIV)

In the 6th century BC, King Croesus of Lydia is credited with being the first to mint coins, a mix of gold and silver called "electrum," which had a specific weight and image stamped on it.

Croesus, who was associated with the legend of King Midas' gold, asked Greek leader Solon who was the happiest man.

Solon, because of the fickleness of fortune, responded, "Count no man happy till he be dead."

Croesus later lost his wealth and his life when Lydia was conquered by King Cyrus of Persia in 546 BC.

Other kingdoms began minting coins, such as the Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, and Romans, whose coin was called denarius.

“'Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?' ... Jesus said to them 'Show Me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?' They said, 'Caesar's.' And He said to them, 'Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.'” (NASB Luke 20:22-25)

One was clipping off the edges of coins.

Another, used by Egyptian and Roman governments, was to mix in less expensive base metals

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Source: Freerepublic.com

Powered by NewsAPI.org

Keywords:

Andrew Jackson • Nicholas Biddle (banker) • History of the United States • Wealth in the United States • Precious metal • Gold • Silver • Copper • Book of Exodus • Gold • Silver • Copper • Gold • Silver • Copper • Shekel • Gold • Silver • Copper • Bible • New International Version • Croesus • Mint (facility) • Gold • Silver • Electrum • Specific weight • Croesus • Legend • Midas • Gold • Ancient Greek • Solon • Happiness • Solon • Fortuna • Happiness • Death • Croesus • Lydia • Cyrus the Great • Persian Empire • Anno Domini • Monarchy • Mint (facility) • Assyria • Egyptians • Persian people • Ancient Rome • Denarius • Tax • Jesus • Denarius • Julius Caesar • Render to Caesar • God • God • New American Standard Bible • Ancient Egypt • Ancient Rome • Free Republic • Free Republic • Management • Copyright • Fair use • Work of art •