Coin Portraying Emperor Elagabalus
218-222
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
Diam.: 2.7 cm (1 1/8 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
142954
Art Historical Context
This bronze coin, struck during the brief tumultuous reign of Emperor Elabalus (r. 218–222 CE), offers a glimpse into the propaganda of Rome. Measuring just 2.7 cm in diameter, it features a portrait of the young emperor, whose real name was Varius Avitus Bassianus Elagabalus, a Syrian priest elevated to the throne by the Roman legions, is depicted in the classic style of imperial coinage—idealized profile, laurel wreath, and authoritative gaze—to legitimize his rule across the vast empire. Roman coins like this were not mere money but powerful tools of communication, circulated from Britain ...
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...