Denarius (Coin) Depicting the Goddess Roma | The Art Institute of Chicago (2024)

Denarius (Coin) Depicting the Goddess Roma

Date:

136 BCE

Artist:

Roman; minted in Rome

About this artwork

Portraits of important people appear on local currency all around the world. The same was true in ancient Rome, which began producing its first coinage in the late 4th century BC. Early coins depicted the heads of gods and goddesses on the front side, often in profile, while the back depicted animals, natural resources, symbols, and references to historical events. The denarius, introduced in 211 BC, was the principal silver coin of Rome for five hundred years. The profile head of the goddess Roma—the personification of Rome—was the most popular image depicted on silver denarii in the second and first centuries BC.

Status

On View, Gallery 153

Department

Arts of the Ancient Mediterranean and Byzantium

Artist

Ancient Roman

Title

Denarius (Coin) Depicting the Goddess Roma

Place

Italy (Object made in)

Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

136 BCE

Medium

Silver

Inscriptions

Obverse: TRIOReverse: CN LVCR ROMA

Dimensions

Diam.: 1.8 cm (3/4 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Mrs. William Nelson Pelouze

Reference Number

1923.1256

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Extended information about this artwork

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