Aurelianus (Coin) Portraying Emperor Tacitus
276 (January-June), issued by Tacitus
Medium
Billon
Dimensions
Diam.: 2.4 cm (1 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
141663
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The front (obverse) of this coin portrays the empperor Tacitus, facing right and wearing a radiate crown, cuirass and paludamentum. On the back (reverse), the figure of Providence stands, facing left while holding a globe and a scepter.
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...