A coin depicting a bearded man with a crown of thorns could be the first and only true portrait of Christ.

The bronze coin, dating from the 1st-century AD, has what an expert says is the only lifelike image ever made of Jesus .

Until now, the inch-wide coin was believed to show the face of King Manu who ruled the Mesopotamian kingdom of Edessa, now southeastern Turkey.

But after nearly 30 years of research, a leading Biblical historian argues that Manu and Christ were one and the same person.

Ralph Ellis says his find is 'one of the most important discoveries in modern history'.

He has studied the lives of the pair and cross-referenced all recorded and anecdotal evidence.

Ellis says he is convinced 'beyond any reasonable doubt' that the same man was posthumously referred to by two names - 'King Izas Manu', and '(King) Jesus Emmanuel'.

If he is correct, the coin's image is the one and only accurate portrait of Christ.

Although Jesus is the most painted figure in Western art, there was no physical description of him in the Bible.

The familiar image of him with long, flowing hair and white robe is a later invention dating from the 6th-century AD.

To read the complete article, see:
Is this the true portrait of Jesus? Historian claims ancient coin bears only lifelike image ofChrist (www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/true-portrait-jesus-historian-claims-10121347)

This coin features King Izas-Manu of Edessa - whom historian Ralph Ellis believes to be one and the same as Jesus Christ

Until now, the 24mm-wide coin was believed to show the face of King Manu who ruled the Mesopotamian kingdom of Edessa, in what is now southeastern Turkey.

But after nearly three decades of research, a leading biblical historian argues that Manu and Christ were one and the same person.

He has studied the lives of the pair and cross-referenced all recorded and anecdotal evidence.

And he concludes that the striking similarities between them cannot be a coincidence.

To read the complete article, see:
THE FACE OFCHRIST? World's only portrait of Jesus made during his lifetime may have been found on an ancient coin showing a bearded man with a crown of thorns(www.thesun.ie/news/791924/worlds-only-portrait-of-jesus-made-during-his-lifetime-may-have-been-found-on-an-ancient-coin-showing-a-bearded-man-with-a-crown-of-thorns/)