Antoninianus (Coin) Portraying Emperor Probus
276-282
Medium
Billon
Dimensions
Diam.: 2.2 cm (7/8 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
141810
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The front (obverse) of this coin portrays the head of Emperor Probus facing to the right. The back (reverse) depicts a figure crowning the emperor, who holds a globe and staff.
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...