Coin Portraying Emperor Gallienus
253-260
Medium
Billon
Dimensions
Diam.: 2.5 cm (1 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
101101
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The front (obverse) of this coin portrays the emperor Gallienus, facing right and wearing a type of breastplate called a cuirass and a draped cloak called a paludamentum. On his head he wears a crown of laurels. On the back (reverse), the goddess Nike stands holding a wreath and a palm branch.
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...