Denarius (Coin) Depicting a Female Head
about 48 BCE
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Diam.: 2 cm (13/16 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
141623
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The front (obverse) of this coin portrays a female figure facing right, with long hair flowing down to her shoulders. On the back (reverse), a standing female is shown frontally, wearing a robe and crown. In her right hand she holds a small deer by the antlers. Her left hand holds a spear.
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...