Emperor Tiberius Tribute Penny Silver Denarius AD14-37

Description

Heading: Emperor Tiberius Tribute penny AD14-37

Denomination: Silver denarius

Period: Roman imperial

Date:  AD14–37

Origin: Lugdunum (Lyon) mint

Condition: VF+/AEF. high relief with good portrait; despite a slight chip to top edge and slightly off centre an excellent example

Obverse: Laureate head to right. TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS

Reverse: Female figure seated on chair with ornamental legs (Livia as Pax) holding branch and inverted spear. PONTIF MAXIM

Size and Weight: 3.43g. 20mm

References: Sear 1763. RIC I 30 (ornamented legs). RSC 16a

Features and Provenance: This coin is sometimes called the ‘Tribute Penny’ and is believed to be the coin that was shown to Jesus by spies to trick him into opposing the emperor which would have led to his arrest. He gave it back. stating the famous quote. “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”

This coin shows a woman seated on the reverse and it it is also considered to be Tiberius’s mother. Livia. as Pax. He was devoted to her when he was young but he soon tired of her overbearing ways and came to loath her.

Condition Summary. This varies with the age of coin and there are grades inbetween

Uncirculated (U). As struck with no traces of wear

Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear. all parts of legend etc present. visible and clear

Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief. all parts of legend etc present. but maybe worn

Fine (F). Wear on the coin and parts of legend etc may be missing or not visible