Coins: Physical Links to the World of the New Testament

Pepperdine Libraries is pleased to host an exhibit of ancient coins in the Special Collections wing of Payson Library. The coins on display are from the collection of John Wilson, professor emeritus of religion and Seaver College dean emeritus. They were selected from among his collection of over 1200 coins that illustrate and illuminate the Holy Land—the world in which the three Abrahamic faiths—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—find their roots. They were collected for their historical and cultural significance, aligning with Wilson's decades of archeological research in Israel, particularly his participation in excavations at Capernaum in Galilee and Caesarea Philippi—modern Banias. The coins serve as physical links to the world of the New Testament.