Denarius (Coin) Depicting the God Mars
103 BCE
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Diam.: 2 cm (13/16 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
142610
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The front (obverse) of this coin depicts the head of the god Mars facing to the left and wearing a helmet ornamented by horsehair and plumes. The back (reverse) depicts two warriors fighting; a Roman legionary and barbarian with headress with horns and shield; between them, a Roman warrior has fallen. The name of the moneyer is recorded in the reverse inscription: Q. Minucius Thermus M. f.
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...