Steve Marr is one of our favorite people to talk to about business, the Christian walk, history and especially his knowledge of ancient coins.

Steve wrote a fascinating column more than a year ago entitled “Pilate’s Coin,” which tied into the Easter story. Jane and I had coffee with Steve recently where he shared another coin from his collection that is referred to as the “Star of Bethlehem” or the “Christmas Coin.”

We’re going to let Steve tell the story:

Archaeological findings regularly confirm Bible events as historical facts. These findings validate scripture as truth. One interesting confirmation of scripture involves a coin minted in 6 A.D. in ancient Antioch. It depicts the Star of Bethlehem. The minting occurred before the ministry of Jesus began. One reason this is worth noting is that in early history coins were used as a major communication tool. Typically they commemorated political, religious or other major events.

Scripture gives a clear account of how the birth of Jesus occurred. One of the New Testament writers, Matthew, wrote: “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’” (Matthew 2:1-2) Is it just a coincidence that The Star of Bethlehem coin from Antioch depicts Aries, the Ram, looking back at a heavenly star? Was there really a star? Who were the Magi and what was their connection to this coin?

The Magi, also called wisemen, were from Persia. They descended from a group that was originally trained by Daniel 500 years before the birth of Christ. The training continued for centuries and would have included the study of stars. Magi who studied the stars would have understood the significance of a rising star. Ancient writings show that Judea was represented by the Ram, Aries, in the zodiac in the same way that other heavenly bodies and their positions represented regal divinities.

Christian astronomer Dr. Michael Molnar found that an unusual array of the planets occurred in Aries during 6 B.C. According to the astronomy/astrology of the Persians, what occurred on April 17, 6 B.C. was the most regal or divine set of signs possible. Only the Magi would have recognized this unique arrangement.

A new astronomy model allows experts to go back several thousand years to see the images in the sky the way they would have looked from many parts of the world. What we see from their model of 6 B.C. clearly shows a star above the horizon that is unlike any other.

A reasonable question is why would a coin of this significance come from Antioch? The city of Antioch was the capital of Syria at the time, and the Magi very likely passed through the city during their journey to find the prophesied king. Logic suggests that they would have discussed the reason for their trip while visiting with Jewish leaders and residents, including King Herod. Later these Jewish leaders in Antioch would likely have been responsible for the minting of a coin with the star and ram motif.

The front of the coin, called the obverse, shows an image of Zeus. Like many coins of that era, they were influenced by multiple cultures. This coin is Roman with Greek lettering and shows the image of the Star of Bethlehem as well as the image of the Greek god Zeus. The coin was minted under the authority of Quirinius, the Roman governor, mentioned in Luke as ordering a census around the time of Jesus’ birth.

To hold in my hand an original coin with such unmistakable reference to the unique quest of the Magi from scripture is reason to believe it is no coincidence. It is a faithful observation sent from another time to ours.

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For more information about the connection between the coin and the birth of Jesus, consider the documentary entitled “The Star of Bethlehem,” available as a DVD at the Sower Book Store in Coeur d’Alene. It can also be watched online on YouTube. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7YTE7WFB6Y)

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Bob Shillingstad’s religion columns appear Saturdays in The Press. Email Bob: bjshill@mac.com