The Magi’s Gold

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Gold was the first gift offered by the Magi (usually by Melchior, though some sources name Gaspar) to the baby Jesus; it symbolized Christ’s royalty.

According to a legend recounted by John of Hildesheim the gift was in the form of a golden apple that had once been owned by Alexander the Great and thirty gold coins minted by Thara, the father of Abraham. Abraham used these coins to buy his burial place; Joseph was sold into Egypt for them. They were later sent to buy spices in Sheba for Joseph’s burial; the Queen of Sheba deposited them in Solomon’s temple; and after the destruction of Jerusalem they made their way into the king of Arabye’s treasury, from whence the Magi took them. Mary lost the money on the flight into Egypt but it was found by a shepherd. Judas would sell Christ for the coins; finally, half of them would buy the burial field and the other fifteen would be given to the guards who kept watch over Christ’s tomb.

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