Coin Portraying Emperor Maxentius
306-312
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
Diam.: 2.2 cm (7/8 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
10240
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The front (obverse) of this coin portrays the emperor Maxentius facing right and wearing a crown of laurels. On the back (reverse), the twins Castor and Pollux are shown standing, each holding scepter and with a horse behind them. One of the earliest and most popular themes on Roman coinage was the Dioscuri, or Castor and Pollux, hero twins who are usually shown with two stars placed above their heads to denote their celestial influence. They give form to a dual myth, representing youth and co...
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...