Coin Depicting the Head of a Man
27 BCE-14 CE
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
Diam.: 1.6 cm (11/16 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
142939
Art Historical Context
This petite bronze coin, measuring just 1.6 cm in diameter, hails from the early Roman Empire during the reign of Emperor Augustus (27 BCE– CE). Struck in an era when Rome transitioned from republic to empire, it features the profile head of a man—likely an imperial portrait—capturing the refined realism that defined Augustan artistry. Displayed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Department Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium, it exemplifies the everyday yet monumental role of numismatics in ancient life. Roman coins like this were more than currency; they served as tools of propaganda, circul...
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...