Denarius (Coin) Depicting the God Janus
119 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
141618
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The front (obverse) of this coin depicts the god Janus, wearing a crown of laurels. On the back (reverse), the goddess Roma is depicted wearing a helmet, with a sceptre in her left hand. He right hand raises a crown, to be placed atop a trophy at the base of which are two shields.
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...