This verse is restructured much better by Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, 1st edition: “He held out the coin where they could see it and asked them, ‘Whose picture and name are inscribed on this?’ ” Translators may also consider a rendering such as “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Whose picture and name are written (or, do you see) on this coin (or, money)?’ ” Notice that in these examples likeness is translated as “picture.” “Image” is also possible. Translators should not use a word that would mean “photograph,” however. The inscription is the writing of the name of the Emperor, which is why it is translated as “name.” This question as well as the reply of verse 21 and Jesus’ counter-question to his opponents are the same in Mark (12.16-17) and Luke (20.24-25).

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 .