Coin Depicting a Male Head
before 190 BCE (?)
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
Diam.: 1.7 cm (11/16 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
142733
Art Historical Context
This petite bronze coin, titled *Coin Depicting a Male Head*,ails from ancient Greece, likely minted before 190 BCE. just 1.7 cm in diameter—small enough to fit comfortably in your palm—it exemplifies the artistry of classical coinage. Produced in the Arts of Greece,, and Byzantium department at the Art Institute of Chicago this numismatic gem captures a finely detailed male profile, possibly a deity, hero, or ruler, rendered with striking realism. Ancient Greek coins like this one were revolutionary, serving as both currency and portable propaganda from the 6th century BCE onward. Struck by ...
About the Artist
Ancient Greek
The artist known simply as "Ancient Greek" represents the anonymous masters of Attic vase painting, a cornerstone of Classical Greek art from the Archaic and Classical periods (circa 700–300 BCE). Little is known of their personal life, as ancient Greek potters and painters rarely signed their works or left biographical traces; early life and training remain not well documented. These creators ope...