Albert Barnes Commentary Mark 12:42

"And there came a poor widow, and she cast in two mites, which make a farthing." — Mark 12:42 (ASV)

Two mites. The word translated mite denotes a small coin made of brass, the smallest in use among the Jews. The precise value cannot now be easily estimated. It was much less than any coin we have, as the farthing was less than an English farthing. It was in value about three mills and a half, or one third of a cent.