Fine Style
Tiberius. AD 14-37. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.84 g, 7h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Group 1, AD 15-18. TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS, laureate head right / PONTIF MAXIM, Livia (as Pax) seated right on chair, holding scepter in right hand, olive branch in left; plain chair legs. RIC I 26; Lyon 144; RSC 16; BMCRE 34; cf. BN 14 (aureus). EF, toned. Artistic style.
The denarii of Tiberius with Pax reverse are commonly known as the 'Tribute Penny,' the coin to which Jesus referred when he was discussing the payment of taxes to the Romans: "render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Mark 12:17). Although there are two other reverse types on the denarii of Tiberius, those were only issued during the first two years of his reign, while the Pax reverse was employed throughout the remainder, making it the more likely coin referred to. It was also the most common imperial-issue coin circulating in the region at the time. The term 'penny' is from the 1611 King James translation of the Bible, and was adopted since the penny was the standard denomination of the time.
