Coin Portraying Emperor Constantine I
310-311
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
Diam.: 1.9 cm (3/4 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
142631
Art Historical Context
This petite bronze coin, struck around 310-311 CE during the early reign of Emperor Constantine I, captures the formidable profile of one of Rome's most transformative leaders. Measuring just 1.9 cm in diameter, it exemplifies the Ancient Roman art of numismatics—coins as miniature masterpieces of propaganda and portraiture. Displayed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Department of Arts of Greece, Rome, Byzantium, it offers a tangible glimpse into the late Roman Empire's visual culture. Constantine I (r. 306-337 CE) rose amid civil wars, eventually unifying the empire and paving the way for C...
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...