Roman Silver Denarius of Tiberius Caesar The “Tribute Penny”

Tiberius AD 14–37 | AR Denarius | Lugdunum Mint NGC Ancients Ch VF (Strike 5/5, Surface 4/5)

Struck during the reign of Tiberius, this silver denarius is widely known as the “Tribute Penny” — the coin traditionally associated with one of the most famous passages in the New Testament.

The obverse bears the laureate portrait of Tiberius with the inscription declaring him the son of the divine Augustus. The reverse depicts a seated figure, commonly identified as Livia as Pax, symbolizing imperial peace.

This type is long believed to be the coin referenced when Jesus was questioned about paying taxes to Rome.

📖 Matthew 22:19–21 (KJV) “Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.”

A coin of empire. A coin of Scripture. A tangible link between Roman history and one of the most quoted teachings in the Bible.