Solidus (Coin) of Theophilus
829-831
Medium
Gold
Dimensions
Diam.: 2.1 cm (7/8 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
142685
Art Historical Context
This exquisite gold solidus, minted between 829 and 831 during the Byzantine era, exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of imperial coinage. Measuring just 2.1 centimeters in diameter, the coin’s compact size belies its importance as a standardized unit of currency that facilitated trade across the vast Byzantine Empire. Struck in pure gold, it reflects the empire’s enduring commitment to a stable monetary system rooted in Roman traditions. As a product of Byzantine artistry, the solidus served both practical and symbolic purposes. Its design typically featured the emperor’s portrait on one s...
About the Artist
Byzantine
"Byzantine" is the collective attribution given to anonymous artists working within the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, whose creations spanned from the 4th to the 15th centuries, primarily in Constantinople and its cultural sphere. These masters produced a vast body of art that defined an era, with museums like the Walters Art Museum and the Art Institute of Chicago cataloging numerous works un...