Coin Portraying an Emperor
late 4th century
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Diam.: 1.5 cm (5/8 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
142675
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silver coin, struck in the late 4th during the waning years of the Roman Empire, exemplifies the artistry and propaganda power of ancient numismatics. Measuring just 1.5 cm in diameter, it features a portrait of an emperor—likely in profile, adorned with a laurel wreath or imperial regalia—on the obverse, a common design to immortalize rulers and assert their divine authority. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Department of Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium, this tiny artifact reveals the sophistication of Roman minting techniques, where hammered dies created finely det...
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...