AR Denarius of Hadrian
money; coins (money)
This coin, struck during the beginning of the reign of Emperor Hadrian, pictures a portrait of the general turned emperor crowned with a laurel on the obverse. Fitting for an emperor that spent half his rule outside of Rome, the reverse shows the goddess Fortuna Redux holding her customary cornucopia and boat’s rudder attached to a globe. Fortuna Redux is responsible for overseeing the return of a long journey, in this case heralding the return of Hadrian to Rome for the first time as emperor after an extended campaign in Syria.
Hadrian, Emperor of Rome
Sear 3493; RIC: 41 var
ARTH250 (Professor V. Rousseau, Fall 2020)
118 CE
MF
University Art Collection, University of St. Thomas (St. Paul)
Silver (metal)
Latin
Physical Object
2021.02.210
Roman Empire
AR Tetradrachm of Sicily
money; coins (money)
This coin depicts a proud society that strived to overcome the troubles it faced. The obverse of this coin features the profile of Herakles, who was often compared to the patron god of Tyre, Melqart. He was a Phoenician god and is associated with the monarchy. The reverse depicts a horse head and a date palm tree, both of which were considered commodities, and act as national icons of Sicily under Carthaginian rule.
Siculo-Punic
ARTH250 (Professor V. Rousseau, Fall 2019)
320-300 BCE
SH
University Art Collection, University of St. Thomas (St. Paul)
Silver (metal)
Punic
Physical Object
2012.02.187
Carthage, Sicily
AE Sestertius of Nero
money; coins (money)
On the obverse is the laureate head of Nero and on the reverse is Annona and Ceres. The obverse side reads IMP NERO CAESAR AVG PONT MAX TRP OTP P, which gives us the name of the ruler at the time. The reverse writing reads AVOVS VERES SC ANNONA. Annona was the Roman personification of their cereal grain supply. When placed with Ceres, the goddess of the harvest, it shows that they praised the Gods for help and luck in their everyday lives.
Nero, Emperor of Rome
ARTH250 (Professor V. Rousseau, Fall 2019)
54-68 CE
SH
University Art Collection, University of St. Thomas (St. Paul)
Bronze (metal)
Latin
Physical Object
2019.04.001
Roman Empire
AR Denarius of Quintus Fufius Calenus
money; coins (money)
The obverse of this coin depicts the laureate bust of the Roman god Honos (left), and the helmeted bust of the goddess Virtus (right). These two deities were commonly portrayed together in Roman culture, as Honos personifies honor while Virtus personifies the Roman virtue of virtus – or masculine strength and military power. On the reverse are the female deities Roma (left), and Italia (right) – personifying Rome and Italy, respectively. Roma holds a spear to symbolize strength, while Italia holds a cornucopia to symbolize abundance and well-being.
Quintus Fufius Calenus
Syd 797, Craw 403/1
ARTH250 (Professor V. Rousseau, fall 2019)
70 BCE
CH
University Art Collection, University of St. Thomas (St. Paul)
Silver (metal)
Latin
Physical Object
2012.02.076
Roman Republic