Sestertius (Coin) Portraying Emperor Trajan Conquering Dacia
104-107
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
Diam.: 3.4 cm (1 3/8 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
10129
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The Emperor Trajan devoted his energy to military campaigns to enlarge the empire. On this coin, the emperor Trajan, mounted and with a spear, overcomes the helpless enemy who represents the people of Dacia in eastern Europe.
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...