Denarius (Coin) Depicting the Goddess Venus with Cupid
84-83 BCE
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Diam.: 1.9 cm (3/4 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
141611
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The front (obverse) depicts the head of the goddess Venus, diademed and facing to the right. In front of her, Cupid stands holding a palm. On the back (reverse), a sacrificial vessel and augur's wand are depicted between two trophies.
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...