Denarius (Coin) Portraying Emperor Septimius Severus
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
141840
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The front (obverse) of this coin portrays the head of Emperor Septimius Severus, facing to the right. On the back (reverse), the legendary hero Hercules can be identified by his attributes, the knobby club that he leans on and the lion’s skin over his left shoulder. He also holds a bow in his left hand. Herakles was the consummate hero. Temples across Greece and South Italy were dedicated to him, the son of Zeus, and Romans, who knew him as Hercules, celebrated him as a role model. With brute 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...