Denarius (Coin) Portraying Emperor Hadrian
130-133
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
141833
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The front (obverse) of this coin portrays the head of Emperor Hadrian, facing to the right. On the back (reverse), the personification of Egypt is seated, holding a sistrum (a type of musical instrument), and facing an ibis. Egypt was the richest province of the Roman Empire and an important source of grain. The sistrum was an emblem of Egypt and used by priests of Isis in religious ceremonies.
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...