Tiberius AV Aureus AD 14-37

Tiberius AV Aureus. Lugdunum, AD 14-37. TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS, laureate head right / PONTIF MAXIM, Livia as Pax seated right on chair with ornamented legs above a single exergual line, holding long vertical sceptre in right hand and branch in left. RIC 29; C.15; Calico 305b; BMC 46; BN 26. 7.64g, 18mm, 10h. Very Fine. Attractive style, well centered, with lustre around the devices. The denarius of Tiberius with Pax reverse is commonly known as the 'Tribute Penny,' the coin to which Jesus referred when he was discussing the payment of taxes to the Romans: "render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Mark 12:17). Although there are two other reverse types on the denarii of Tiberius, those were only issued during the first two years of his reign, while the Pax reverse was employed throughout the remainder, making it the more likely coin referred to. It was also the most common imperial-issue coin circulating in the region at the time. The term 'penny' is from the 1611 King James translation of the Bible, and was adopted since the penny was the standard denomination of the time. (from CNG)