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Solidus (Coin) Portraying Emperor Constantine I

A work made of gold.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • A work made of gold.

Date:

Late 324-early 325, issued by Constantine I

Artist:

Roman; minted in Antioch, Syria

About this artwork

The portrait of Constantine on the front (obverse) of this coin is among the last in the history of Roman coinage, for increasingly the emphasis lay not on the individual person of the emperor but on the office. Constantine’s luminous eyes in this coin portrait were said by his contemporaries to reflect his divine inspiration. On the back (reverse) of the coin, Constantine rides to the left on horseback, raising his right arm, and carrying a scepter in his left.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Arts of the Ancient Mediterranean and Byzantium

Culture

Ancient Roman

Title

Solidus (Coin) Portraying Emperor Constantine I

Place

Antioch (Minted in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Struck 324 CE–325 CE

Medium

Gold

Inscriptions

Obverse: CONSTANTINVS P F AVG (Pius et Felix - dutiful and happy) Reverse: AOVENTVS [sic] AVGVSTI N ; in exergue, SMAN* (mint mark signifying Sacra Moneta Antioch) "The coming of our Augustus"

Dimensions

Diam.: 1.9 cm (3/4 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Martin A. Ryerson

Reference Number

1922.4903

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/96052/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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