Denarius (Coin) Depicting the Goddess Venus
46-45 BCE
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Diam.: 1.8 cm (3/4 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
141625
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The front (obverse) of this coin depicts the goddess Venus, facing right wearing a diadem and a beaded necklace. Her hair is rolled at the sides. On the back (reverse), a trophy is flanked by shields and two seated captives. The female captive at left holds her head in her hands while the male captive at right has his hands tied behind his back.
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...