Siliqua (Coin) Portraying Valentinian II
378-383
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
145236
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The front (obverse) of this coin portrays Emperor Valentinian II, diademed, draped, and cuirassed (wearing a military cloak), facing right. The back (reverse) depicts Roma seated on a throne, holding Victory on globe and spear. Although the fourth century was a time of tremendous political, social, and religious change for the Roman Empire, the imagery presented on the coins tells a different story, one of an unbroken chain of powerful rulers supported by the deities of traditional Roman religi...
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...