Coin struck by Pontius Pilate

Pontius Pilatus "Pilate" became the Roman Military Governor of the Imperial Province of Judea from 26-36 AD. Pilate has been received as a harsh administrator who failed to understand the religious convictions and national pride of the Jews. He is best known for his association with the trial and conviction of Jesus Christ. As a governor, Pilate had complete Judicial authority over all who were not Roman citizens. When Jesus was found guilty of blasphemy, he was committed to the Roman court because they had the authority to impose a death sentence. To his credit, Pontius Pilate refused to approve this judgement without investigation. The Jewish priests then made other charges against Jesus, and the governor had a private interview with him. It is generally accepted that Pilate was impressed with the dignity and frankness of Jesus' answers to his questions, and made attempts to save him. Nevertheless, fear of an uprising in Jerusalem forced Pilate to accede to the demand of the populace, and Jesus was executed. The coin designs of the Roman appointed procurators, such as Pontus Pilate, were generally nondescript. The three first incumbents chose neutral symbols such as ears of barley and cornucopias. No one struck their own names on the coins, merely the name of the ruling Roman emperor and the year of his reign. Pontius Pilate's issued coinage features a powerful symbol a Roman religious staff known as lituus, which was used by the Roman priests who followed the signs of the Gods. This speaks to the ruling Emperor Tiberius and his belief in the signs of the heavens. It is particularly noteworthy here because of the association of Pontius Pilate to the death of Jesus Christ, and what that would mean to the future of Rome.