Denarius (Coin) Portraying Emperor Antoninus Pius
151-152
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
142613
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The front (obverse) of this coin portrays the head of Emperor Antoninus Pius, laureate and facing to the right. The back (reverse) depicts Vesta standing to the left and holding a simpulum (ladle with long handle) and palladium (ancient image of the goddess Pallas Athena that was believed to guarantee the safety of Troy). After Emperor Antoninus Pius accepted his fourth (and final) consulship in 145, the inscription COS IIII appears on the back of all his coins.
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...