Tiberius, 14-37. Denarius (Silver, 17 mm, 3.68 gms), Lugdunum. TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS Laureate head of Tiberius to right. Rev. PONTIF MAXIM Livia (as Pax) seated right on a chair with plain legs, holding long scepter in her right hand and olive branch in her left. RIC 30. good fine
The Tribute Penny (or Denarion in Greek/Latin or Cristo della moneta in Italian) was the coin shown to Jesus Christ when he made is famous speech 'Render unto Caesar'. The phrase comes from the King James Version of the gospel account: Jesus is asked, 'Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?' and he replies, 'bring me a penny, that I may see it'. Born was the 'Tribute Penny'.
However, it has been suggested that denarii were not in common circulation in Judaea during Jesus' lifetime and that the coin may have instead been an Antiochan tetradrachm bearing the head of Tiberius, with Augustus on the reverse. Another suggestion often made is the denarius of Augustus with Caius and Lucius on the reverse, while coins of Julius Caesar, Mark Antony and Germanicus are all considered possibilities.
