This is an authentic bronze prutah struck in Judaea during Pontius Pilate’s ten-year prefecture, which spanned the ministry of both John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. It is a genuine antiquity.
A middling bureaucrat posted to a remote corner of the Roman Empire—the fifth prefect of the troublesome province of Judaea, to be precise—Pontius Pilate nevertheless became one of the most renowned historical figures of the last two millennia, by virtue of his presiding over the trial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Little is known definitively about Pilate, although his historicity has been confirmed by multiple primary sources. An equestrian of the Pontii family, Pilate succeeded Valerius Gratus as prefect in A.D. 26. He held the post for ten years, an unusually lengthy term of office that spanned the ministry of both John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. According to Philo of Alexandria, a contemporary historian, he was notorious for offending the religious sensibilities of his subjects—the Jews loathed him—and he was sacked by the Emperor Tiberius for suppressing a Samaritan uprising with too much brutality.
When Jesus was brought before him on the capital charge of sedition, Pilate concluded that the miracle-making preacher was innocent of the crime. Only when the rabble insisted on his guilt does he famously wash his hands, sealing Jesus’ fate. He is reviled by some Christians, while others consider him a saint, notably the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, which has venerated him since the sixth century. In addition to his prominence in all four Gospels, he has been the subject of countless works of literature, music, and art, from Dante’s Divine Comedy to films like The King of Kings and The Passion of the Christ to “Sympathy for the Devil” by the Rolling Stones.
There are several different types. Obverse shows either three bound ears of barley or a lituus—the wooden staff the rulers held in their right hands to indicate authority. Reverse is a ladle with Greek inscription or the date within a laurel wreath. Although the provincial capital was at Caesarea, the coins were thought to be minted in Jerusalem.
Bronze Judaea coins of this era were crudely struck, frequently resulting in partial and off-center details.
Judaea Bronze Prutah
Obverse: 1. 3 ears of barley |2. Lituus
Reverse: 1. Ladle | 2. Greek inscription
Weight: 1.5-2.5 g
Diameter: 14-17 mm
The coin images used are not to scale and are for illustration purpose only.
Available as a single NGC certified slab or beautifully displayed in a deluxe case. The box case is accompanied with a story card, certificate of authenticity, and a black gift box. (Please specify grade when ordering-Available in PG, HG; MG; LG. Slab Box measures: 4 21/64" x 5 9/32 " x 1 3/8" Slab only Code: JUPONTIUSPILATE-NGC (choose grade) Box Order Code: JUPONTIUSPILATE-BOXNGC (choose grade)