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Solidus (Coin) of Honorius

A work made of gold.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • A work made of gold.

Date:

405

Artist:

Byzantine, minted in Ravenna, Italy

About this artwork

Certainly the best-known face in antiquity was that of Alexander the Great (reigned 336-323 BCE), whose profile graced coins for two hundred years. He collected the treasure of conquered kingdoms as he swept across the Near East, and with this rich booty he set up mints that produced coins bearing his portrait. Such self-advertising was new to Greece. It had been only forty years since a portrait of a living person first appeared
on coinage.

The purpose of the first portrait coins was to identify the ruler. The front side became a mirror of the sovereign’s self-image. The back was often used to communicate the ruler’s accomplishments or intentions. The profile portrait was used because it suited the very shallow depth and limited surface of the coin. The tiny images were carved by engravers into bronze dies, one for the front and another for the back. The coins were then struck, one by one, in a process similar to how modern coins are created today.

The front (obverse) of this coin portrays the bust of Honorius, facing right, draped, cuirassed, and laureate. The back (reverse) depicts Honorius standing to the right, holding a military standard and globe surmounted by Victory. His right foot rests on a captive.

Rather than defending the Roman Empire, the emperor Honorius (reigned 394–423) lived to see Italy overrun by Visigoths led by King Alaric, who virtually ended the rule of Rome.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium

Artist

Byzantine

Title

Solidus (Coin) of Honorius

Place

Ravenna (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 405 CE

Medium

Gold

Inscriptions

Obverse: D N HONORIVS P F AVG Reverse: VICTORIA AVGGG in Exergue: RIV COMOB

Dimensions

Diam.: 2.1 cm (7/8 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Martin A. Ryerson

Reference Number

1922.4906

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.

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https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/96054/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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