![]() Gospel of Thomas Ī similar episode occurs in the Gospel of Thomas (verse 100), but there the coin in question is gold. Show me a penny literally, a denarius, a coin of the value of 7.5 d., but really representing a larger sum in our money.It seems probable, from the language of Mark 12:15, 16, that his interrogators had to borrow the Roman coin in question from some of the neighbouring money-changers. Another suggestion often made is the denarius of Augustus with Gaius and Lucius on the reverse, while coins of Julius Caesar, Mark Antony and Germanicus are all considered possibilities. However, it has been suggested by some scholars that denarii were not in common circulation in Judaea during Jesus' lifetime and that the coin was more probably an Antiochan tetradrachm bearing the head of Tiberius, with Augustus on the reverse. The reverse shows a seated female, usually identified as Livia depicted as Pax. The most popular and prevalent coin of the Roman Empire was the denarius, made from pressed silver it remained in circulation for an astonishing five. The inscription reads "Ti Caesar Divi Avg F Avgvstvs" ("Caesar Augustus Tiberius, son of the Divine Augustus"), claiming that after death Augustus had become a god. It is this coin that is sold and collected as the "tribute penny", and the Gospel story is an important factor in making this coin attractive to collectors. The Greek text uses the word dēnarion, and it is usually thought by scholars that coin was a Roman denarius with the head of Tiberius. Julius Caesar was born into a prominent Roman family, one that counted the founder of Rome and the goddess Venus as ancestors. The coin above was from a denarius which. Tiberius was in power when Jesus was crucified. Augustus was not Tiberius true father, he was the son of Augustus wife Livia, by her first husband. He was the second Roman Emperor, after Augustus who died in 14 AD. So upon seeing that the coin is a "tribute penny", Jesus avoids the trap by saying to give it back to Caesar, because it is his anyway. Throughout the life of Jesus, Tiberius was the Emperor of Rome. The Pharisee or "spy" asking Jesus whether to pay Roman taxes/tribute is attempting to entrap him into admitting his opposition to doing so. ![]() The tribute penny was the coin that was shown to Jesus when he made his 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?" ( Mark 12:14) and he replies, "bring me a penny, that I may see it" ( Mark 12:15). The Tribute Money, by Titian (1516), depicts Jesus being shown the tribute penny ![]()
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