Sestertius (Coin) Portraying Philip the Arab
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
141786
Art Historical Context
This bronze sestertius, struck in 246 CE during the reign of Emperor Philip the Arab, captures the ruler's stern profile on its obverse, a hallmark of Roman imperial coinage. Measuring just 3 cm in diameter, coins were everyday currency yet served as powerful tools of propaganda, disseminating the emperor's image across the vast Roman Empire. Philip, born in Arabia and ruling from 244 to 249 CE, was the first Roman emperor of Arab origin, bridging Eastern influences with Roman tradition amid a turbulent era of military campaigns and economic strain. As a large-denomination bronze coin, the se...
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...