The money for the tax is more literally “the coin of the tax.” Tax translates the same noun rendered “tribute” in the phrase “toll or tribute” in 17.25. Most translators will do something quite similar to what Good News Translation has done; for example, “Show me the coin (or, money) people use to pay the tax with.”

Coin translates “denarius” (see the RSV footnote), the Roman coin required for the payment of the taxes. This was a silver coin, and on it was inscribed not only the face of the Roman Emperor but the religious claims made by the Emperor. For example, Emperor Tiberius (see Luke 3.1) had on his coins the inscription “God and high priest.” Some languages do not have a general word coin but only names for the specific coins that exist in their currencies. If a phrase such as “silver money” or “metal money” is not possible, then translators should try a comparison such as “money like a…,” using some local coin.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .