★ The Tribute Penny Denarius ★

Tiberius (14-37). AR Denarius 'Tribute Penny' type. Lugdunum mint, 36-37 AD. Obv. TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS. Laureate head right. Rev. PONTIF MΛXIM. Livia as Pax, seated right, holding sceptre and olive branch. RIC I (2nd ed.) 30. AR. 3.43 g. 19.00 mm. An outstanding example. Expressive portrait, lovely iridescent tone, with blue and reddish hues. About EF. The tribute penny was the coin that was shown to Jesus when he made his famous speech 'Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's.' 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?' (Mark 12:14) and he replies, 'bring me a penny, that I may see it' (Mark 12:15).