Tiberius denarius, Lugdunum (Lyon) mint AD 16-37:
Jesus, referring to a "penny" asked, "Whose is this image and superscription?" When told it was Caesar, He said, ''Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's" (Matthew 22:20-21). Since Tiberius was Caesar at the time, this denarius type is attributed by scholars as the "penny" referred to in the Bible.
Obv: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS, laureate head right.
Rev: PONTIF MAXIM, Livia seated right holding scepter and branch, legs on chair ornamented, feet on footstool.
Weight: 3.5 grams. Maximum diameter: 19mm.
RIC I 30, RCV I 1763.

Sold May 2011