about ancient nomos
Ancient Nomos Art is a museum of galleries exhibiting ancient coins and ancient mint maps. The coin gallery displays the diverse art and history of hand-crafted ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Persian and Medieval coinage. The ancient mints mapping gallery features Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Asia Minor and Medieval mint city regions and territories. Visitor's are welcome to explore, study and enjoy Ancient Nomos Art.
Imperial, Roman – 36 AD
Tiberius
From Ancient Galleries
Obverse: Laureate bust of Tiberius facing right, wearing two wreath tie ribbons.
Reverse: Livia as Pax seated right on chair while holding scepter and olive branch.
LEGEND
Obv. TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS. Laureate head of Tiberius facing right, wreath ties with two parallel ribbons with slight undulations. Rev. PONTIF MAXIM. Livia (Mother of Tiberius as Pax) seated right on chair, holding scepter in right hand and olive branch in left, feet on footstool; ornate chair legs, single line below.
Emperor Tiberius, named Tiberius Claudius Nero, was born on 16 November 42 BC. He was the son of Tiberius Claudius senior and Livia Drusilla, the wealthy aristocratic Claudii family of Rome. His mother Drusilla soon divorced his father and remarried Octavian (Augustus) in 39 BC. Tiberius was adopted into the Julian dynasty in 4 AD, thus giving him the official title of Tiberius Julius Caesar as preparation to succeed the reign of Augustus. Tiberius became the 2nd Roman Emperor after the death of Augustus in 14 AD. This coin was struck toward the end of his reign in 36 AD at the Lugdunum mint. It is commonly known as the ‘Tribute Penny’ coin, and famously discussed by the Prophet Mark in the Bible, when Jesus was asked if it was lawful to give or not give monetary tributes to the Emperor of Rome (Mark 12). The word “penny” comes from the early 17th century King James Bible translation. Subsequently, the term has been adopted by numismatists, since a silver penny was the standard British denomination at the time. The coins obverse depicts a mature, laureate crowned bust of Tiberius facing right. The legend, TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS, translates as, “Tiberius Caesar, Son of the Divine Augustus Filius, Augustus.” The coins reverse shows his adorned Livia as Pax (mother) seated right on a chair with ornate legs. Her feet are shown resting on a small footstool. She is holding an olive branch in her left hand, the Roman symbol for peace, while the right arm supports a long, upright scepter. The legend, PONTIF MAXIM flank the image of Livia and translate as, “Chief Priest.” Tiberius died at 78 in 37 AD, only a year after the minting of this coin.
DOCUMENTATION
Value: Denarius. Metal: AR Silver. Weight: 3.77 grams. Mint: Lugdunum. Date: 36-37 AD.
Attribution: RIC I 30; Lyon 152; RSC 16a, “Tribute Penny” Group 5; BMCRE 48; BN 33.
Legend, Documentation and Attribution