An interesting denarius from the early years of Tiberius’ reign, struck at Lugdunum around AD 14–16. RIC 26 belongs to the earlier varieties of an issue that became one of the most recognisable coin types of the Julio-Claudian dynasty.
The obverse presents Tiberius as TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS – son of the deified Augustus, emphasising his position as the legal successor to the founder of the Principate. The continuation of Augustan titulature and iconography served to underline the stability and legitimacy of the new regime.
The reverse depicts a seated female figure, interpreted as Pax and traditionally identified with Livia, the emperor’s mother. She holds a long sceptre and a branch, while the legend PONTIF MAXIM refers to Tiberius’ position as Pontifex Maximus, the highest priest of Roman state religion.
This type belongs to the group of denarii commonly known as the “Tribute Penny”, traditionally associated with the Gospel account in which Christ is questioned about paying tribute to Caesar. Although it cannot be proven that this particular coin type was the denarius mentioned in the Gospels, its chronology during the reign of Tiberius makes such an association possible.
The present specimen is therefore a particularly interesting example of an early variety of the famous “Tribute Penny”, one of the most recognisable Roman coins associated with both the history of the Empire and Biblical tradition.
Roman Imperial
Tiberius (14-37), Denarius 14-37, Lugdunum mint (Lyon)
Obverse: laureate head right
TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS
Reverse: Livia (as Pax) seated right on a chair with ornamented legs, holding a long inverted spear with her right hand and an olive branch in her left
PONTIF MAXIM
Diameter 19 mm, weight 3.76 g
