Denarius (Coin) Depicting Bonus Eventus
62 or 54 BCE
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Diam.: 2.1 cm (7/8 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
139852
Art Historical Context
Step into the bustling world of the late Roman Republic with this exquisite silver denarius, minted around 62 or 54 BCE. Measuring just 2.1 cm in diameter, this tiny treasure from the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium collection depicts Bonus Eventus, the Roman god of agricultural prosperity and good fortune. Often portrayed with symbols like a cornucopia or grain stalks, he embodied hopes for bountiful harvests and successful endeavors—vital concerns in an agrarian society facing political upheaval. As a standard silver coin worth ten bronze asses, the denarius w...
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...