Nephite Coins and Chariots

Although the text of the Book of Mormon never uses the word “coin,” it does speak of the Nephites having a money system. In Alma 11:4 we read: “Now these are the names of the different pieces of their gold, and of their silver, according to their value.” The chapter heading for Alma 11 calls these “pieces” of gold and silver “Nephite coins.” It seems logical, therefore, that some of these coins should be found by archaeologists if the story in the Book of Mormon is true. Welby W. Ricks stated:

I have here the Nephite money system, . . . since this was the Nephite money system . . . it will be possible in some future time that some of these may be found, since these were their pieces of gold and silver. . . . It is likely, . . . that they had something stamped on them or written on them. If there were something written on them, it is likely they would have used some of their ancient writing system, hence, possibly, some Hebrew or Egyptian. . . . It is possible, archaeologically, to find some of these, since they had such a system. It seems reasonable to me that some day they will be found. (Book of Mormon Institute, BYU, December 5, 1959, pp. 54-55)

Dr. James R. Clark, of the Brigham Young University, related the following:

. . . we must realize that for some of these things we must rely on testimony alone. I did have the opportunity of taking the testimony of two persons . . . who brought what was reported to be a Nephite coin to the offices of the First Presidency around the turn of the century. He had served in the Southern States as a missionary. He came back from the Southern States with what he believed to be a Nephite coin. His mission president, Ben E. Rich, had so identified it. . . . He was told also by his mission president to take it to the First Presidency when he returned home. He did so. I took the testimony from him and from his wife, had it recorded and then read it to them and had them sign it. They testify that such a coin was delivered to the Church. I was also told in that interview that they were shown a bag of coins of similar nature, by members of the First Presidency. (Book of Mormon Institute, BYU, December 5, 1959, p. 55)

We feel that if the Mormon leaders really had a bag of Nephite coins they would have made them available so that archaeologists could have examined them to determine their authenticity. The fact that they have not done this throws a shadow of doubt upon the whole story.

Actually, archaeologists claim that the “inhabitants of North and South America did not use coins before the time of Columbus.” (Letter from Carl F. Miller, Smithsonian Institution, dated February 5, 1962)

John L. Sorenson, who was Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Brigham Young University, made this observation concerning Nephite coins:

For example, can we expect to locate Nephite coins as “proof” of their presence? The answer is no. In the first place the Book of Mormon, thank goodness, never mentions coins—only money. (“Coins of the Nephites” occurs only in a chapter heading inserted in the course of publishing the scripture.) . . . No authentic “coin” has ever been found in America under convincing circumstances, and some reported finds can be shown to be either fakes or otherwise unbelievable. (Book of Mormon Institute, BYU, December 5, 1959, p. 26)

The Book of Mormon also claims that the Nephites had “chariots” (3 Nephi 3:22), but so far archaeologists have not found any in the New World. The Mormon writer Paul R. Cheesman stated:

In the New World, many miniature models of wheeled vehicles have been found, but no counterparts in the larger, more practical design have been discovered as yet. The absence of these larger artifacts has caused some archaeologists to think that the practical use of the wheel was not known. Their assumption demands a stone or metallic wheel. However, there may have been large, wooden wheels in use. If there were large, wooden-wheeled vehicles, they probably would have decomposed by now. (Brigham Young University Studies, Winter 1969, p. 188)

In our book Archaeology and the Book of Mormon, page 68, we have some information concerning some gigantic stones which some Mormon writers claim were used as wheels. Jack H. West would have us believe that these stones, which were “nine feet in diameter,” were used on ancient “wagons,” and that these wagons carried up to “300 tons” (600,000 pounds) with “apparent ease.” He also claimed that they traveled great distances and over “rugged mountains” with these wagons.

Dr. Paul R. Cheesman, of Brigham Young University, does not seem to accept the idea of such gigantic wheels for he states:

No large utilitarian wheels have been found to date in pre-Columbian America. However, many wheeled toys have been found; and usually toys are made to resemble the real thing. (The Instructor, November 1968, p. 430)