This Roman coin is from Ephesus and is 18.5mm in diameter. The city had permission from Rome to mint its own coins. The obverse is of the Emperor Claudius and his wife Agrippina II with the reverse showing the statue of the goddess Dianna/Artemis of Ephesus, mentioned in Acts 19 where a mob cried out "Great is Dianna of the Ephesians." This was in response to the Apostle Paul preaching about idolatry (Acts 19v34). This coin was minted in 49-50AD just before the Apostle Paul was in the city. He would have handled a coin like this while he was there and people who held this coin may well have heard Paul preach the Gospel in Ephesus.
Paul would later write the book of Ephesians to the growing church in Ephesus, including these wonderful verses that tell us we are not saved by our works no matter how good they are, but by God's Grace alone - "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2v8-9) You cannot earn God's grace, it is a free gift to those who repent and believe/trust in Christ. You don't earn a gift, someone has to pay for it and God paid the price of sin when Jesus died on the cross so that we can be forgiven and receive the gift of eternal life. "The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life thorough Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6v23)
Augustus Toplady conveys this beautifully in the words of his great hymn "Rock of Ages"
"Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress,
Helpless, look to Thee for grace:
Foul, I to the fountain fly,
Wash me, Saviour, or I die."
Have you received the gift of Eternal life?