Coin Portraying Emperor Emperor Constantine I
307-337
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
142630
Art Historical Context
This small bronze coin, struck during the reign of Emperor Constantine (r. 306–337 CE), captures the profile of one of Rome's most transformative leaders. Measuring just 1.9 cm in diameter, it the precision of ancient Roman minting techniques, where metal was hammered between engraved dies to create finely detailed portraits. As a product of imperial workshops, such coins were not mere currency but tools of propaganda, circulating Constantine's image across the vast empire to affirm his authority and divine favor. Constantine's era marked a pivotal shift in Roman history, from pagan tradition...
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...