Sestertius (Coin) Portraying Emperor Antoninus Pius
155-156
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
Diam.: 3.2 cm (1 5/16 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
141706
Art Historical Context
This bronze sestertius, struck around 155-156 CE during the reign of Emperorinus Pius, exemplifies the artistry and propaganda of ancient Rome. Measuring just 3.2 cm in, it features a detailed portrait of the emperor on the obverse—likely laureate and togate—symbolizing his authority piety, for which he earned the epithet "Pius." reverse typically celebrated imperial virtues, deities like Pax or Concordia, or public works, reinforcing Rome's stability in an era of relative peace following the expansive reigns of Trajan and Hadrian. As a large-denomination coin, the sestertius was a workhorse ...
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...