SILVER DENARIUS
Thsi page is updated on 12 Mar 2004.
2 cm. in diam. on stand 8 x 5 x 3 cm.
The back is probably an image of ANNONA facing left. This is the personification of the corn harvest. Annona is seated and holds in her right hand a scepter signifying power and in her left an ear of corn showing the supply of corn which was payment as tribute by the provinces conquered by Rome. The markings can be read clearly as TR.P VIIII IMP XV COS VII PP.
A Scripture reference relevant to this coin
Matthew 22:15-22 Paying Taxes to CaesarThe condition of this coin can be described as "fair". The value is based on both the state of preservation as well as the rarity of the coin itself. This coin is similar to the one used by Jesus in Matthew 22:15-22 to teach the Jewish leaders about their duty both to God and to the State. Notice its irregular shape. Coins in the early days of Roman coinage were made by pouring molten metal onto an "anvil die" placed horizontally. Another die called a "punch die" was then used to pressed the coin into its desired shape and type. This process was known as "striking" or minting. The result was the round shape and the imperfect edges. While the defacement of a coinage may be due to usage, sometimes because the original dies used were themselves defective the result was an imperfect imprint. In the case of this coin the surface edges probably shows both the original condition of the coin with some degree of defacement through usage, but the edges of the coin, with parts of the inscribed letters missing would be the original shape of the coin.
Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. [16] They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. [17] Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" [18] But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? [19] Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, [20] and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"
[21] "Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." [22] When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.
The basic Roman coin at the time of Jesus was the silver denarius (the plural is "denarii". The Unmerciful Servant (in the aprable told by Jesus) tried to strangle a fellow servant who owed him 100 denarii. This was equivalent to 100 day's wages. In Matt. 20:1-16 one denarius was equivalent to one day's wages. The "ten thousand talents" he owed his master signified a very large amount of money : "talent" was not a coin but was "a unit of monetary reconing" (Illustrated Bible Dictionary, ii, 1022). The Good Samaritan gave the innkeeper two denarii as payment for the expenses for the wounded man. In Rev 6:6 as quart of wheat cost one denarius and three quarts of barley cost three denarii. These were prices of things during famine times. Two further examples of the silver denarius may be cited : the coin found in the mouth of the fish whcih was used to pay Jesus' custom dues; and the denarius show to Jesus during His final week at the Temple causing him to remark that what belongs to Caesar should be given to Caesar (Lk 20:24).