Name/Title
CE 0031 - 0032 Roman Judaea, Pontius Pilate Prutah, Lituus and LIH in Wreath, 31/32 CEDescription
Prutah of Pontius Pilate
Roman Judaea, Jerusalem mint
Pontius Pilate, prefect of Judaea under Tiberius
31/32 CE
Cast or struck bronze/copper-alloy prutah
Dimensions and weight not provided
References: RPC I 4969; Meshorer/TJC 334; Hendin GBC 6, 6372; older Hendin 1343
Obverse: TIBEPIOY KAICAPOC — lituus, the curved staff associated with Roman augury.
Reverse: LIH within wreath; regnal year 18 of Tiberius, corresponding to 31/32 CE.
This small bronze prutah was issued in Judaea under Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect who governed the province for Emperor Tiberius from 26–36 CE. The coin’s date, LIH, uses a Greek regnal-year formula: L marks “year,” and IH represents 18. Year 18 of Tiberius corresponds to 31/32 CE. A comparable CNG example is cataloged as Jerusalem mint, dated regnal year 18 of Tiberius, 31/2 CE, with LIH within wreath / lituus and the standard references Meshorer 334; Hendin 6372; RPC I 4969.
The lituus was a Roman ritual implement associated with augury, the interpretation of divine signs. Its appearance on a Judaean local coin is significant because it introduced Roman religious symbolism into a region where coin imagery was often constrained by Jewish aniconic traditions. The wreath reverse was more acceptable within local numismatic practice, since wreaths had appeared on earlier Judaean coinage. The coin therefore materializes the tensions of Roman provincial rule: imperial authority is present, but expressed through a small-denomination local currency meant for everyday exchange.Create Date
July 30, 2025Update Date
May 20, 2026
