Solidus (Coin) Portraying Emperor Julian II

Art Historical Context

This exquisite gold solidus, struck during the brief reign of Emperor Julian IIr. 361–363 CE), offers a glimpse into the late Roman Empire's world of imperial propaganda and economic stability. Measuring just 2.2 cm in diameter, this coin from the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Greece Rome, and Byzantium captures Julian's profile in high relief, a hallmark of Roman numismatic art. Minted in the summer of 361 until his death on June , 363, it exemplifies the solidus—a pure gold coin introduced by Constantine I around 312 CE—that served as a reliable currency across the empire, symbolizing R...

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...