Tiberius "Tribute Penny" Denarius

Tiberius: The Reluctant Emperor

Tiberius Claudius Nero was Augustus's stepson and successor — a brilliant general who never wanted the throne. His denarius is traditionally identified as the "tribute penny" of the New Testament, the coin Jesus held when he spoke the famous words: "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's."

The Coin

This denarius was struck in enormous quantities at the Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. The obverse shows Tiberius laureate, while the reverse depicts his mother Livia seated as Pax, holding an olive branch and scepter. The design remained virtually unchanged throughout his 23-year reign.

Whether or not this specific type is truly the Gospel "tribute penny," it was certainly the most common silver coin circulating in the eastern Mediterranean during the ministry of Jesus — making it one of the most historically evocative coins in existence.