Pontius Pilate was working on an aqueduct for the city of Jerusalem. Large building projects are notoriously expensive and one can expect to run over budget. Such was the case here. Pilate was in need of cash to pay the contractors and money was available close by – namely the Temple Tax shekels.

How exactly Pilate obtained this money we are not sure. Some think that there was an existing agreement between Pilate and the Jewish authorities, that when the Temple Tax was collected, if there was money left over, it could be used to help fix up Jerusalem.  If so then the problem seems to be that Pilate was demanding more and more of the “surplus” shekels and the Jewish population was not pleased.  The issue boiled over once when Pilate was visiting Jerusalem, maybe even examining progress on the aqueduct itself.  A riot broke out and had to be disbanded by “plain-clothed” soldiers.  It seems that Pilate was expecting trouble and was prepared. Even though the soldiers were not issued swords there were deaths from their use of force.

I have read commentator who connects this riot with Luke 13: 1, the slaughter of the Galileans at the temple.  However the facts do not line up easily so I think we are dealing with a different event. 

The minting of gold and silver coins was under the complete control of the Roman Emperor.  As the Roman Prefect in Judea, Pontius Pilate would only be allowed to mint bronze coins.  This had been true long before Pontius Pilate came on the scene. The previous Roman Prefects, as well as the earlier Herodian and Hasmonean rulers of Judea, could only mint bronze coins.

Even though Pontius Pilate had the authority to mint bronze coins he did so only three times, in the 16th, 17th and 18th years of his rule. He ruled from 26-36 AD so his coins are dated 29/30, 30/31 and 31/32 AD. Why did he mint coins only during these particular years?  It is not known.

The other mystery is where these coins were minted. There are two solid possibilities. The coins could have been minted in Jerusalem. There had been a mint established there previouly under the rule of Herod Archelaus.  Pontius Pilate could have reestablished that mint and used the resources already there or he could have established a mint at Caesarea, where for most of the year he lived and ruled from.

The Coins of Pontius Pilate were not only to be found on the moneychangers table but they could be candidates for the coins the widow donated in the temple. (Luke 21:2)   They were small bronze coins of little value. They were minted in the right time frame. They were in use in Jerusalem. They were the same denomination as other small Jewish bronze coins in circulation at this time – namely “prutahs.”
 

If you were looking for a coin for the widow’s mite I am sure these coins would not be the first that would come to mind if you asked an ancient coin dealer.  Most likely you would be shown a Judean coin from either the Hasmonean or Herodian times.  But these coins of Pontius Pilate cannot be ruled out.

If you would like more information about Pontius Pilate’s coins I recommend the book: “The Coins of Pontius Pilate” by Jean-Philippe Fontanille & Sheldon Lee Gosline (2001)

Pontius Pilate will produce three coins during his time as Procurator. They will be small bronze coins (called prutahs) that would be used to buy everyday items like food and lamp oil.  When minting his coins he made a decision to try and please two groups of people. First he needed to mint a coin that would not upset the local Jewish population. Therefore he chose not put a portrait of the emperor on the coins as would be found in all the other Roman provinces.  Images of living people and animals were offensive to the population and considered a violation of the commandments. Instead he would have images of either ears of barley or a wreath. Both were acceptable images on coins.

However these images were only put on one side of the coin. On the other side he would put an image that spoke of his connection with Rome and Roman religious practices.  Namely he put the image of a Lituus or a Simpulum – both were objects that used during Roman religious ceremonies.

What a delicate balance he sought after and one that previous procurators did not attempt on their coins.  We have no mention of major reactions against such coins though and through evidence from archeological digs we know that they were used over a vast geographic area as well as for many years.  Images of the various styles of coins I am referring will be found in previous posts.