Denarius (Coin) Depicting the Genius Populi Romani
about 55 BCE
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Diam.: 1.8 cm (3/4 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
141594
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The front (obverse) of this coin depicts the Genius Populi Romani, facing right and holding a sceptre. On the back (reverse), an eagle stands on a thunderbolt, shown between a sacrificial vessel and an augur's wand.
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...