Judea – Roman Procurator Valerius Gratus
Prutah – Jerusalem Mint
Issued under Emperor Tiberius, AD 24
A historically important bronze Prutah issued during the administration of Valerius Gratus, Roman procurator of Judea from AD 15–26 under the reign of Emperor Tiberius. Gratus governed Judea during the early Roman imperial period and preceded Pontius Pilate, making his coinage an important part of the biblical-era monetary history of the region.
Struck at the Jerusalem mint, this coin represents the continued production of local bronze currency under Roman authority. Unlike imperial Roman coinage, Judean issues generally avoided human portraits in accordance with local religious traditions and instead featured symbolic designs such as wreaths, agricultural motifs, and other culturally appropriate imagery.
Coins of Valerius Gratus are highly collected because they belong to the period of the early first century AD, the same historical era associated with the life of Jesus and the New Testament world. They provide a tangible connection to the political and economic environment of Roman Judea before the Jewish Revolt.
Region: Judea
Authority: Valerius Gratus, Roman Procurator
Imperial Authority: Tiberius (AD 14–37)
Date: AD 24
Mint: Jerusalem
Denomination: Prutah
Metal: Bronze
A significant biblical-era coin from Roman Judea, offering collectors a direct link to the history, politics, and daily commerce of first-century Jerusalem.
