Denarius (Coin) Depicting the Goddess Minerva
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
5752
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Obverse: Helmeted and draped bust of Minerva to right, with aegis; crowned Victory behind Reverse: in exergue, II - Warrior clasping hands with another warrior; part of ship to right
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...