Agora Auctions, LLC
Numismatic Auction 68 15 Aug 2017
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Tiberius. A.D. 14-37. AR fourree denarius (19.52 mm, 2.84 g, 12 h). Lugdunum mint, A.D. 15-18. TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS, laureate head right / PONTIF MAXIM, Livia, as Pax, seated right on chair with fancy legs, holding scepter and olive branch, one line below. Cf. RIC 30; Cf. RSC 16a; Cf. BMCRE 48. aVF.
This is an ancient counterfeit of the coin which is commonly called a "Tribute Penny." In the Gospel according to Matthew, Jesus, referring to a "penny" (in certain translations) asked, "Whose is this image and superscription?" When told it was Caesar, He said, ''Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's" (22:20-21). Since Tiberius was Caesar at the time, this denarius type is attributed by scholars as the "penny" referred to in the Bible.
This is an ancient counterfeit of the coin which is commonly called a "Tribute Penny." In the Gospel according to Matthew, Jesus, referring to a "penny" (in certain translations) asked, "Whose is this image and superscription?" When told it was Caesar, He said, ''Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's" (22:20-21). Since Tiberius was Caesar at the time, this denarius type is attributed by scholars as the "penny" referred to in the Bible.