Caesarea in Judaea, 18 AD., Roman Procurators, Valerius Gratus, Prutah, RPC 4965.
Caesarea in Judaea, Valerius Gratus, Roman Procurator under Tiberius (Prefect 15-26 AD.), dated year 5 of Tiberius = 18 AD.,
Æ Prutah (14-15 mm / 1,84 g), bronze, axes about medal alignment ↑↑ (ca. 330°),
Obv.: TIB / KAI / CAP , in wreath [tied at base with an X].
Rev.: [I]OY - ΛIA / L - Є , palm branch flanked by IOΥ-ΛIA (Julia) and date (Greek year and numeral 5).
RPC I, 682, 4965 ; Hendin 646 ; Meshorer TJC 328 : Hendin (new) 1339 ; AJC II 282, 18 .
Valerius Gratus was the 4th Roman Prefect of Iudaea province under emperor Tiberius from 15 to 26 AD. He succeeded Annius Rufus and was replaced by Pontius Pilate. The government of Gratus is chiefly remarkable for the frequent changes he made in the appointment of the high-priesthood. He deposed Ananus, and substituted Ismael, son of Fabi, then Eleazar, son of Arianus, then Simon, son of Camith, and lastly Joseph Caiaphas, the son-in-law of Ananus.