Denarius (Coin) Depicting the God Jupiter
about 87 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
139849
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
On the front of this coin, the god Jupiter is depicted bearded and wearing a crown of laurels. A sceptre can be seen at his lower left. On the back (reverse), a type of chariot called a quadriga is depicted.
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...