Princeton acquires gold coin with image of Jesus Christ
 

BY EMILY ARONSON
The Princeton University Numismatic Collection has acquired a Byzantine gold coin from the late seventh century that bears the first use of the face of Christ on a coin.

Princeton's Curator of Numismatics Alan Stahl called the coin "one of the most beautiful and historically important examples of the image."

The coin was issued by Byzantine emperor Justinian II and is dated to 692 by current numismatic scholarship.

Before the reign of Justinian II starting in 685, the image on the front of Byzantine coins had been the head of the emperor, usually in military dress, with symbolic religious images relegated to the coin's reverse.

Early in his reign, Justinian introduced a new coin which put Christ's depiction on the front and moved his own depiction to the reverse.
"The image of Christ on these coins, especially on the example just acquired by Princeton, is in a bold naturalistic style dramatically unlike the stylized linear portraiture of Byzantine coins, which was maintained for that of the emperor on the reverse," Stahl said.

The priority of figures also was reversed on the coin, with the front proclaiming "Jesus Christ, Lord, King of those Reigning," while Justinian's name appears only on the reverse, with the title of "Servant of Christ" rather than the usual designations of imperial power.

The coin was acquired by the Numismatic Collection in the Princeton University Library's Department of Rare Books and Special Collections.

According to Stahl, the issue of the Justinian coin with the image of Christ had major political repercussions throughout the Mediterranean world at the time. Within two years, the Islamic caliph Abd el-Malik introduced a reform that removed all imagery from Islamic gold and silver coins, a tradition that would last a millennium. In the West, the bold appearance of Christ on the coinage of Constantinople strengthened the opposition of the Roman church to what it viewed as idolatry in Byzantium and contributed to the developing schism between the churches.

The Justinian II solidus is catalogued and illustrated online in the database of the Princeton Numismatic Collection as coin 6188.

SOURCE: PRINCETON

Editor's note: The purchase price was not disclosed, but reports suggest a wide price range of $25,000 to as little as $3,000 for similar coins.

http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/sty...f-jesus-christ

Re: Princeton acquires gold coin with image of Jesus Christ
 

Well, I guess that proves it....

Re: Princeton acquires gold coin with image of Jesus Christ
 

It would be interesting to know from where it was acquired and how. Cool looking old coin.

Re: Princeton acquires gold coin with image of Jesus Christ
 

Maybe HistoryStudent can enlighten us a little more.

Re: Princeton acquires gold coin with image of Jesus Christ
 

History Student probably has five of these rated PGCS MS70's, one with a "Proof-Like" finish!!:cry1:

Re: Princeton acquires gold coin with image of Jesus Christ
 

Nah, just a few in MS62.

:111:

He made me open the ten tonne safe and take a look.

Just KIDDING.... :signs14:

Yeah, right? :111:

Re: Princeton acquires gold coin with image of Jesus Christ
 

I kinda get the feeling that if Jesus existed as claimed he wouldn't be too thrilled about being on a coin.

Re: Princeton acquires gold coin with image of Jesus Christ
 

...but reports suggest a wide price range of $25,000 to as little as $3,000 for similar coins.

Jesus price will soar up in the coming year. Am I wrong? Jesus wears a pair of glasses.:111:

Re: Princeton acquires gold coin with image of Jesus Christ
 

This same type coin is $1695 here.

http://www.lostgalleon.com/shop/product46.html

Here is another Byzantine Gold Jesus coin sold on eBay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/JESUS-Christ-CON...QQcmdZViewItem

Re: Princeton acquires gold coin with image of Jesus Christ
 

I have many coins with Jesus Christ on them - it was the common thing to do prior to 1800. Then the socialist communist took over after the French Revolution.

I have a 1797 Italian Venice Ducat MS62 - NGC slabbed and quite stunning it truly is! - right before Napoleon took the DOGE off his DUKEDOM throne.....

Yes, the LORD is on it!

:signs14::ok:

http://www.steinbergs.com/ItalyVZn62FR1445.jpg

Re: Princeton acquires gold coin with image of Jesus Christ
 

well, churchs would not mind. Render unto.....

Re: Princeton acquires gold coin with image of Jesus Christ
 

Jesus had no problem with money. He had a problem with the love of money above all else.

Re: Princeton acquires gold coin with image of Jesus Christ
 

ANCIENT BYZANTINE EMPIRE-Emperor Justinian II gold solidus ND (First Reign 685-695 AD)
FR. 131 (S-1248) Bust of Christ facing/Rev: Emperor standing, holding cross potent.
This is the first portrait of Christ on a coin! Struck circa 692-695 AD at Constantinople.
Scarce NGC AU (clipped)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------$4,950.00


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Little pricy - but available - steinbergs.com :504: