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Literal Translation / Primary Inscription
Epigraphic RecordObverse Latin legend reads: 'TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS' (Tiberius Caesar, Son of the Divine Augustus, Augustus). Reverse: 'PONTIF MAXIM' (High Priest).
Tiberius Denarius ('Tribute Penny')
Silver Roman denarius bearing the laureate portrait and divine titles of Tiberius Caesar: 'Render to Caesar'
Direct Archaeological Attestation 96%
c. 14–37 AD
Discovery Excavation: Minted at Lugdunum (Lyon, Gaul); circulated widely throughout Roman Empire and Judea
Current Museum / Accession: British Museum, London; American Numismatic Society, New York
The standard silver daily wage coin of the Roman Empire, featuring Emperor Tiberius on the obverse and his mother Livia seated as Pax (holding an olive branch and scepter) on the reverse.
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Corroboration Distribution for Connected Passages (46 records)
87% Confidence
46 sources
41.3%
34.78%
15.22%
Direct Archaeology 19 (41.3%)
Ancient Historians 16 (34.78%)
Dead Sea Scrolls & Manuscripts 7 (15.22%)
Scholarly Consensus 0 (0%)
Debated & Traditional 4 (8.7%)
Claim-by-Claim Epistemic Verification Breakdown
Rigorous 4-part empirical analysis separating ancient text from bias and consensus
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Biblical Corroboration & Cross-References
Scriptural HarmonyCorroborates the famous confrontation in Matthew 22:15–22, Mark 12:13–17, and Luke 20:20–26 ('Show me the coin for the tax... Whose likeness and inscription is this? They said, Caesar's. He said to them, Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's').
Corroborated Passages:
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Scholarly Debate, Historiography & Modern Consensus
Critical NuanceScholars highlight the religious offense to Jewish piety: the coin proclaimed Tiberius the son of a deified man (divi Augusti filius) and imperial high priest, explaining why Pharisees and Herodians brought it to trap Jesus.
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Ancient Author Bias, Royal Propaganda & Perspective
Ideological ContextImperial fiscal coinage propagating Roman imperial theology, emperor worship, and worldwide sovereignty.
Corroborated Scripture Passages
Attested Figures & Kings
Excavations & Ancient Geography
Scholarly Editions & Critical Publications
- Mattingly, H. (1923). Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum (BMCRE I).
- Hendin, D. (2010). Guide to Biblical Coins.