Tiberius AR Denarius. Lugdunum, 36-37 AD. TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS, laureate bust right / PONTIF MAXIM, Livia (as Pax) seated right on throne with ornate legs, holding long sceptre and olive branch, single line below chair. RIC 30; RSC 16a; BMC 48. 3.67g, 17mm, 5h.
Near Extremely Fine.
The Tribute Penny (or Denarion in Greek/Latin or Cristo della moneta in Italian) was the coin shown to Jesus Christ when he made is famous speech 'Render unto Caesar'. The phrase comes from the King James Version of the gospel account: Jesus is asked, 'Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?' and he replies, 'bring me a penny, that I may see it'. Born was the 'Tribute Penny'.
However, it has been suggested that denarii were not in common circulation in Judaea during Jesus' lifetime and that the coin may have instead been an Antiochan tetradrachm bearing the head of Tiberius, with Augustus on the reverse. Another suggestion often made is the denarius of Augustus with Caius and Lucius on the reverse, while coins of Julius Caesar, Mark Antony and Germanicus are all considered possibilities.

MUCH NICER IN HAND

REF:SB-9-310