Sestertius (Coin) Portraying Emperor Gordianus
238-244
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
Diam.: 3 cm (1 3/16 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
141755
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The front (obverse) of this coin portrays the emperor Gordianus, facing right and wearing a crown of laurels. On the back (reverse), the personification of gladness is depicted standing, facing left and holding a wreath in one hand and a rudder in the other.
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...