Denarius Serratus (Coin) Depicting the God Jupiter
about 81 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
141645
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The front (obverse) of this coin depicts the head of the god Jupiter (Greek Zeus) facing to the right. He is bearded and wears a laurel wreath in his hair. The back (reverse) depicts the goddess Europa, holding her veil which floats over her head, sitting on a bull that charges to the left. Under the bull is an ivy leaf.
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...