Unknown artist, France

Silver Denarius, Head of Tiberius (obverse), seated female figure (reverse), 14–37 CE, Silver, 3.76 g, The British Museum, London; Donated by Count John Francis William de Salis, R.6195, British Museum/London/Great Britain / Art Resource, NY

Whose Likeness is This?

Commentary by Christopher J. Nygren

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This coin was minted in the Roman town of Lugdunum (now Lyon, France), sometime during the reign of Tiberius (14–37 CE). The silver denarius was one of the most common forms of imperial currency used during the time of the Roman Empire. Coins like this were struck by hand. Craftsmen at mints strategically disseminated throughout the Mediterranean basin would produce moulds, known as dies, for the coins. They would then insert a blank piece of metal into the die, and when this die was struck with a decisive hammer blow an impression would be transferred onto the coin. Typically, Roman coins carried a likeness of the emperor on the obverse and an image of some important deity or allegorical figure on the reverse. Coins also indicated the mint at which it had been struck, which allows modern scholars to link this coin to the mint at Lugdunum.

A coin of this sort, though certainly not this example, was handed to Christ when he asked to see the coin used to pay taxes. Occasionally, Roman mints would produce versions of the denarius using gold, which was much more valuable. Indeed, the Gospel of Thomas, an apocryphal text that was excluded from the Bible by Church councils in late antiquity, specifies that ‘[t]hey showed Jesus a gold coin’ (Gospel of Thomas 100:1–4).

Regardless of the metal out of which the coin was made, Christ’s point seems clear: the coin was struck at the behest of the emperor, and therefore was the rightful property of the Roman Empire. Christ’s followers could easily pay their imperial taxes without violating either the spirit or the letter of his teachings. What matters more than the coin, Christ suggests, is the internal disposition of his followers. 

                                                                                                                                  

References

Bland, Roger. 1992. The Chalfont Hoard and Other Roman Coin Hoards (London: British Museum Press), no. 193, p. 30

Sutherland, C.H.V. 2018. Roman Imperial Coinage, vol. 1, From 31 BC to 69 AD (London: Spink & Son), no. 30, p. 95

See full exhibition for Matthew 22:15–22; Mark 12:13–17; Luke 20:20–26

Matthew 22:15–22; Mark 12:13–17; Luke 20:20–26

Revised Standard Version

Matthew 22

15 Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how to entangle him in his talk. 16And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Heroʹdi-ans, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God truthfully, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men. 17Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19Show me the money for the tax.” And they brought him a coin. 20And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22When they heard it, they marveled; and they left him and went away.

Mark 12

13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Heroʹdi-ans, to entrap him in his talk. 14And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15Should we pay them, or should we not?” But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a coin, and let me look at it.” 16And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” 17Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were amazed at him.

Luke 20

20So they watched him, and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might take hold of what he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. 21They asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. 22Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” 23But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, 24“Show me a coin. Whose likeness and inscription has it?” They said, “Caesar’s.” 25He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 26And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him by what he said; but marveling at his answer they were silent.

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