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What is the most influential coin religiously? If you said: a tribute penny, you’re right. But what kind of coin is this, really?
This article will tell you about the Tiberius tribute penny. It’s history, value, and where to see authentic pieces.
AI coin identifier can evaluate many other tribute coins.
Tribute Penny and Its Legacy
A tribute penny, funnily, is not even a penny! It’s a denarius, a currency of Ancient Rome. It was translated as a “penny” by scholars.
The coin is mentioned in the Bible, specifically in the New Testament, "Render unto Caesar" episode.
Once, Jesus was asked about paying taxes to the Roman government. The question was “Should Jews pay Roman taxes?”. The Lord was in a precarious situation. If Christ opposed paying, he could be sentenced. But he had to protect his people as well.
Jesus looked at the Roman coin and said: “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's”.
This saying started a new relationship between Christianity, secular government, and society. The denarius that “participated” in the story became iconic, overshadowing many Ancient Roman currency examples.
The Penny Design
This coin was made during Tiberius’ reign and praises him throughout its design.
Obverse: A portrait of Emperor Tiberius facing right. The inscription around the portrait read “TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS”, which means “Tiberius Caesar, son of the Divine Augustus, Augustus.”
Reverse: Shows the Roman goddess Livia. She is seated, holding a branch and a scepter. The inscription encircling her says “PONTIF MAXIM”, a position of a chief priest in Ancient Rome.
While the overall design is not as pretty as many ancient coins, the historical value is superb!
Authentic Pieces
Can you find a tribute penny for sale? You can find it and maybe buy it.
Such ancient pieces sometimes appear on coin auctions. You might as well go on the internet markets.
The price varies often. Because the piece is old and has cultural, historical, and even material value (silver-based), the dealer has a high authority. We’ve seen prices from $500 to over $1000.
Be warned! Ancient coins can be counterfeit or heavily restored. Make sure to buy from reputable dealers who provide certificates or guarantees.
If you're not into buying, museums always welcome you! Museums centered around ancient pieces often have a Tiberius denarius tribute penny in their collection. For example, the American Numismatic Society. They offer a wide variety of old coins.
More Tribute Coins
There’s a series of totally different tribute coin, 1943 silver pennies.
They’re called "tribute" because they were minted in 1943 as tribute to the pre-war pennies. Due to copper shortages, the Mints had to switch the material from copper to steel.
As Robert Harper said, “Millions for defense, not a penny for tribute”. So the government made a good decision to use copper for other things.
Today, the time is more peaceful, and the original phrase would likely change to “Millions for charity not a penny for tribute” meaning.
Coins ID Scanner
Imagine an app that can tell everything about your coin, from the date to value, just by one photo? Coin ID Scanner does just that!
The platform has a huge catalog of 150,000 entries, some of which depict pieces just as old as a Tiberius denarius.
The app has an easy-to-read interface and is very informative. A great choice for a beginner or a professional!
Coins ID Scanner works on iOS and Android platforms.
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