Roman Empire "Tiberius" Aureus NGC XF 5x2
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TIBERIUS (A.D. 14–37). AV Aureus (7.38 g). Lugdunum Mint, ca. A.D. 36–37. NGC EF, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 2/5
RIC 29; Calicó 305c
This aureus belongs to one of the most evocative and culturally resonant coinages of the Roman Empire, immortalized through its association with one of the most quoted passages of the New Testament. The type, with its dignified portrait of Tiberius on the obverse and Livia—deified here as Pax, the personification of peace—seated with scepter and olive branch on the reverse, directly parallels the silver denarius traditionally identified as the “Tribute Penny.” In the Gospel of Matthew (22:17–21), Christ, when questioned on the legitimacy of paying taxes to Rome, replied: “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” For centuries, these coins have thus been more than numismatic artifacts—they are tangible touchstones of Biblical history and theology.
The choice of imagery was deliberate. Tiberius, Rome’s second emperor and stepson of Augustus, sought to embody continuity with the Augustan order. His coinage reinforced dynastic stability by elevating Livia, his mother and Augustus’s widow, to a quasi-divine status as a symbol of concord and prosperity. Struck at Lugdunum in the final years of his reign, this aureus encapsulates the propaganda of the Julio-Claudian dynasty: the emperor as eternal ruler, his family as guarantors of peace.
Tiberius himself was a figure of paradox. A celebrated general in his early career, his reign began with stability and cautious governance, yet in later years he withdrew into seclusion on the island of Capri, leaving the administration of the empire increasingly in the hands of his prefects, notably Sejanus. Ancient historians paint him as austere, enigmatic, and often severe—a ruler both respected for his discipline and feared for his suspicion. His coinage, however, projects none of that darkness; instead, it presents the serene image of a dynasty ordained to rule, and in the Christian tradition, it becomes the very emblem of the power Christ placed in worldly perspective.
This specimen, despite minor edge filing, offers superb eye appeal with its radiant surfaces, sharply executed portrait, and elegant rendering of Livia-Pax. Beyond its aesthetic charm, it remains one of the most powerful intersections of numismatics, imperial history, and sacred scripture.
RIC 29; Calicó 305c
This aureus belongs to one of the most evocative and culturally resonant coinages of the Roman Empire, immortalized through its association with one of the most quoted passages of the New Testament. The type, with its dignified portrait of Tiberius on the obverse and Livia—deified here as Pax, the personification of peace—seated with scepter and olive branch on the reverse, directly parallels the silver denarius traditionally identified as the “Tribute Penny.” In the Gospel of Matthew (22:17–21), Christ, when questioned on the legitimacy of paying taxes to Rome, replied: “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” For centuries, these coins have thus been more than numismatic artifacts—they are tangible touchstones of Biblical history and theology.
The choice of imagery was deliberate. Tiberius, Rome’s second emperor and stepson of Augustus, sought to embody continuity with the Augustan order. His coinage reinforced dynastic stability by elevating Livia, his mother and Augustus’s widow, to a quasi-divine status as a symbol of concord and prosperity. Struck at Lugdunum in the final years of his reign, this aureus encapsulates the propaganda of the Julio-Claudian dynasty: the emperor as eternal ruler, his family as guarantors of peace.
Tiberius himself was a figure of paradox. A celebrated general in his early career, his reign began with stability and cautious governance, yet in later years he withdrew into seclusion on the island of Capri, leaving the administration of the empire increasingly in the hands of his prefects, notably Sejanus. Ancient historians paint him as austere, enigmatic, and often severe—a ruler both respected for his discipline and feared for his suspicion. His coinage, however, projects none of that darkness; instead, it presents the serene image of a dynasty ordained to rule, and in the Christian tradition, it becomes the very emblem of the power Christ placed in worldly perspective.
This specimen, despite minor edge filing, offers superb eye appeal with its radiant surfaces, sharply executed portrait, and elegant rendering of Livia-Pax. Beyond its aesthetic charm, it remains one of the most powerful intersections of numismatics, imperial history, and sacred scripture.
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