Denarius (Coin) Portraying Emperor Caracalla
201-206
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
10044
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of Rome with this exquisite silverarius, struck between 201 and CE, portraying the young Emperoracalla. Measuring just 2 cm diameter, this tiny treasure the Severan dynasty captures Caracalla—then Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus—likely in a classic laureate portrait on the obverse, a hallmark of imperial coinage Minted during the reign of his father, Septimius Severus, it exemplifies the Roman Empire's mastery of numismatic art. Denarii like this were more than currency; they were tools of propaganda disseminating the emperor's image across the vast empire from Britain t...
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...