Argenteus (Coin) Portraying Emperor Diocletian
300, issued by Diocletian or Maximianus
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Diam.: 1.7 cm (11/16 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
5721
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The front (obverse) of this coin portrays the head of emperor Diocletian, laureate and facing to the right. The back (reverse) depicts a laurel wreath and inscription. X C V I on the back refers to the reformed silver coinage after 295 CE. The inscription is for the number "96," meaning 96 silver coins to the pound was Diocletian's reformed currency. However, it was often struck well under that weight.
About the Artist
Ancient Roman
The artists attributed to "Ancient Roman" in museum collections represent the anonymous craftsmen who produced the vast output of sculpture, frescoes, mosaics, and reliefs defining Roman visual culture from the Republic (c. 509–27 BCE) to the late Empire (c. 395 CE). Individual identities remain elusive, as Roman makers were typically viewed as skilled tradesmen—often enslaved Greeks or provincial...