Sestertius (Coin) Portraying Emperor Antoninus Pius
157-158
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
Diam.: 3.3 cm (1 5/16 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
141707
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The front (obverse) of this coin portrays the head of Emperor Antoninus Pius, laureate and facing to the right. On the back (reverse), the goddess Annona - the divine personification of the grain supply to the city of Rome- stands, head turned to the left, resting her left hand on an upright rudder. Her right hand holds ears of grain over a modius full of grain.
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...