Denarius (Coin) Depicting a Galley
32-31 BCE, issued by Marc Antony
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Diam.: 1.7 cm (11/16 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
9913
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The front (obverse) of this coin depicts a type of Praetorian ship, called a galley, with rowers. On the back (reverse), an eagle flies between two staffs. The Roman number "VI" (six) refers to one of the twenty-three legions that served under Mark Antony. Coins such as this denarius were used to pay his fleet.
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...