Ancient Coin Resembling the Shroud of Turin Sparks Debate

An ancient coin engraved with a face resembling the one traditionally attributed to Jesus may challenge long-standing doubts that the Shroud of Turin is a medieval forgery.

In 1988, carbon dating tests placed the Shroud between 1260 and 1390 AD, seemingly ruling out the possibility that it was Christ’s burial cloth. However, some researchers argue that the tested samples may have come from repaired sections of the cloth, leaving room for debate.

Now, a bronze follis minted in Constantinople between 969 and 976 AD, which bears an astonishing resemblance to the Shroud’s facial image, has brought the discussion back into focus.

Justin Robinson, a historian at The London Mint Office, notes that the tiny one-centimeter portrait surprisingly reproduces the distinct “cross” formed by the eyebrows, forehead, and nose — almost identical to the features seen on the Shroud.

“In my opinion, the obvious similarities between the coin and the face on the Shroud of Turin show what engravers in Constantinople [where the Shroud was displayed] saw in the 10th century,” Robinson, who purchased the coin in 2018, told the Daily Mail.

“If coin engravers were copying the Shroud’s face in the 10th century, it is logical that the Shroud cannot be a late medieval forgery,” he added.

According to Michael Kowalski, a leading expert on the Shroud of Turin:

“The coin features a portrait of Jesus with distinctive traits that appear to have been copied directly from the Shroud, including two long locks of hair on the left side of the head. It is particularly hard to understand why the engraver would depict hair longer on one side unless he was reproducing what was believed to be a true likeness of Jesus.”

The coin also bears inscriptions emphasizing its sacred significance: around the face reads “God with us,” while the reverse proclaims “Jesus Christ, King of Kings.”

Robinson further noted that the image displays a distinctive mark on the right cheek, a small square beneath the mustache, and a forked beard, with long hair hanging on both sides and two parallel strands at the lower left — details that strongly echo the Shroud.

“All of these features can be clearly seen in the image on the Shroud, and the result is a coin that resembles the Shroud so closely it cannot be dismissed as mere coincidence,” Robinson said.

Jesus’ face on the coin also features a forked beard, matching the Shroud, but what has most surprised historians are the two parallel strands of hair on the left side of both artifacts.

High-resolution photographs of the Shroud reveal these strands falling from the forehead or temple area, part of the long hair framing Jesus’ face and extending to the shoulders in a clearly defined pattern.

There is also a distinctive horizontal band across the throat, corresponding to a similar band on the Shroud.

“I find this convincing evidence that the coin engravers in Constantinople carefully copied the face,” Robinson said.

Having recently arrived in Constantinople, the emperor would certainly have wanted the true image of Christ to appear on the empire’s coins. Such specific features would have been nearly impossible to invent without direct reference to a preexisting image.

The historian also pointed out flaws in the carbon dating of the Shroud, noting that “the sample tested in 1988 was taken from a corner of the Shroud that had undergone medieval repairs to reinforce the fabric.”

“The corner of the Shroud was often handled by priests during public displays, exposing the cloth to centuries of wear, sweat, and damage. Scientists also note that fire can distort carbon-14 results, and the Shroud was severely damaged in a 1532 fire,” Robinson continued.

These factors suggest that carbon dating may not accurately reflect the Shroud’s true age, reinforcing the possibility that it is far older than previously believed and that the Constantinople coin may indeed capture an authentic image of Christ.