Denarius (Coin) Depicting the Goddess Roma

Arts of the Ancient Mediterranean and Byzantium

about 136 BCE

Roman

The front (obverse) of this coin depicts the head of Roma facing right witha winged helmet. The back (reverse) depicts the god Jupiter standing in a quadriga (four-horse chariot) galloping to the right, holding a sceptre and launching a thunderbolt.

The denarius, introduced in 211 BCE, was the principal silver coin of Rome for five hundred years. The profile
head of the goddess Roma—the personification of Rome—was the most popular image depicted on silver denarii in the second and first centuries BCE.

Status: Currently Off View
Department: Arts of the Ancient Mediterranean and Byzantium

Artist: Ancient Roman
Title: Denarius (Coin) Depicting the Goddess Roma
Origin: Roman Empire
Date: 136 BCE
Medium: SIlver
Dimensions: Diam. 2 cm; 3.79 g
Credit Line: Gift of William F. Dunham
Reference Number: 1920.742
IIIF Manifest The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world. Learn more.: https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/141582/manifest.json

William F. Dunham (1857-1936), Chicago; given to the Art Institute of Chicago, 1920.

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