Ancient Judea - AE Prutah - Circa 30 AD - Pontius Pilot
$625
Denomination: AE Prutah
Mint: Jerusalem Mint
Date: 30 A.D.
Grade: Very Fine
Mount: 14K gold
Description: JUDAEA, Procurators. Pontius Pilate. 26-36 CE. Æ Prutah
(14mm, 1.51 g, 11h). In the name of Tiberius. Jerusalem mint. Obverse: Dated RY 17 of Tiberius (30/1 CE). L IZ (date, with Z retrograde) within wreath. Reverse: Lituus. Meshorer 333b; Hendin 6371a; RPC I 4968; and Sofaer 49. Dark brown patina, earthen highlights.
History: Pontius Pilot was Roman prefect (governor) of Judaea (ad 26-36) under the emperor Tiberius. He presided at the trial of Jesus and gave the order for his crucifixion. According to the traditional account of his life, Pilate was a Roman equestrian (knight) of the Samnite clan of the Ponti (hence his name Pontius).
He was appointed prefect of Judaea through the intervention of Sejanus, a favorite of the Roman emperor Tiberius. Protected by Sejanus, he incurred the enmity of the Jews by insulting their religious sensibilities, as when he hung worship images of the Emperor throughout Jerusalem and had coins bearing pagan religious symbols minted. According to an uncertain 4th-century tradition, Pilate killed himself on orders from Emperor Caligula in AD 39.
