Ancient Rome 14-37AD 'Tribute Penny' Tiberius Silver Denarius Very Fine (VF20)

Ancient Rome 14-37AD 'Tribute Penny' Tiberius Silver Denarius Very Fine (VF20)

The “tribute penny” is the name commonly given to the Roman silver denarius referenced in the Bible, when Jesus is asked whether it is lawful to pay taxes to Caesar (Mark 12:13–17). The coin most often identified as the tribute penny is the denarius of Emperor Tiberius (14–37 CE), which typically shows his portrait on the obverse and a seated female figure, often thought to represent Livia as Pax, on the reverse. While other coins may have circulated in Judea at the time, the Tiberian denarius fits the description well and has become closely associated with the famous biblical passage. Today, the tribute penny is one of the most recognized ancient coins, valued both for its historical and religious significance.

Tiberius (42 BCE–37 CE) was the second emperor of Rome, ruling from 14 to 37 CE as the successor of his stepfather, Augustus. A capable general before becoming emperor, he expanded and secured Rome’s frontiers in Germania and the Balkans, earning respect for his military skill. As emperor, however, Tiberius was more cautious and reserved, preferring stability over conquest, and he strengthened the empire’s administrative systems. His later years were marked by increasing withdrawal from public life, retiring to Capri, and growing reliance on ambitious advisers such as Sejanus, whose treachery fueled political purges in Rome. Though his reign maintained the empire’s prosperity, Tiberius’s aloofness and harsh reputation left him remembered as a grim and often unpopular ruler.

Obverse: Laureate head of Tiberius, facing right, legend around, within a dotted border.
Reverse: A seated female figure, draped, seated facing right, holding a branch and a long sceptre, with legend and a dotted border around.

Specifications:
Emperor: Tiberius Claudius Nero (14-37)
Composition: Silver
Weight: Approx. 3.4 g
Diameter: 18 mm
Mint: Lugdunum, Gaul