NUMISMA CENSUS, or the Tribute- Money. We read in St. Matthew, that the Disciples of the Pharisees and the Herodians, came to tempt Jesus, and ask’d him if it were lawful to pay Tribute to Cæsar, or not. But Jesus knowing their Malice, said to them; Ye Hypocrites, why tempt ye me? Shew me a Piece of the Money, with which the Tribute is paid: Ostendite mihi numisma census. Now ‘tis enquired, what piece of Money this was? and of what Tribute our Saviour here spoke? As to the first of these Questions, the Gospel informs us, that this Piece of Money had upon it the Image and Inscription of Cæsar, or the Roman Emperor. Cujus est imago hæc & superscriptio? Dicunt ei, Cæsaris. ‘Twas therefore a Piece of Money of the Roman Emperor that then reign’d, that is, of Tiberius, or of one of his Predecessors. As to the other Question about the Tribute, there is great Probability that it was a Capitation, or a Tax to be levied at so much a Head. Appian says1, that the Jews paid the Capitation; and Ulpian assures us2, that in the Provinces of Syria, all the Males from the Age of fourteen Years, and all the Females from twelve, till they were sixty-five Years old, were obliged to pay this Tribute or Capitation. And this is the proper Signification of the Census.
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