What is "tribute money"

Tribute \Trib"ute\, n. [OE. tribut, L. tributum, fr. tribuere, tributum, to bestow, grant, pay, allot, assign, originally, to a tribe, from tribus tribe; cf. F. tribut. See Tribe, and cf. Attribute, Contribute.]

1. An annual or stated sum of money or other valuable thing, paid by one ruler or nation to another, either as an acknowledgment of submission, or as the price of peace and protection, or by virtue of some treaty; as, the Romans made their conquered countries pay tribute.

   Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute.
   --C. C. Pinckney.

2. A personal contribution, as of money, praise, service, etc., made in token of services rendered, or as that which is due or deserved; as, a tribute of affection.

   Implores the passing tribute of a sigh.
   --Gray.

3. (Mining) A certain proportion of the ore raised, or of its value, given to the miner as his recompense.
   --Pryce. Tomlinson.

   Tribute money, money paid as a tribute or tax.

   Tribute pitch. (Mining) See under Tributer. [Eng.]

   Syn: See Subsidy.

Tribute Money may refer to two separate incidents in the life of Jesus, and paintings representing them:

• Coin in the fish's mouth,
  • The Tribute Money (Masaccio), fresco in the Brancacci Chapel
  • St Peter finding the Tribute Money, 1617–18 painting by Peter Paul Rubens, in National Gallery of Ireland
  • St. Peter Finding the Tribute Money, ca. 1623 painting by Jacob Jordaens
  • The Tribute Money 1817 painting by George Hayter
• Render unto Caesar..., , with reference to the Tribute penny
  • The Tribute Money (Titian), 1516 painting, now in the Gemäldegalerie, Dresden
  • The Tribute Money, ca. 1560–1568 painting by Titian, now in the National Gallery (London)
  • Jesus and the Tribute money, by Giovanni Serodine, in the National Gallery of Scotland
• one of the above
  • The Tribute Money, by Ludovico Mazzolino, in Christ Church, Oxford
  • The Tribute Money, 1612 painting by Peter Paul Rubens, in California Palace of the Legion of Honor
  • The Tribute Money, 1629 etching by Rembrandt
  • Tribute Money, by Alexander Maximilian Seitz
  • Christ and the Tribute Money, by Anton von Werner
  • The Tribute Money, by Giuseppe Bazzani, in MacKenzie Art Gallery, Saskatchewan
  • The Tribute Money, 1742 painting by Giuseppe Bazzani, in San Diego Museum of Art, California