Antoninus Pius, Emperor A.D. 138-161 [obverse]

mid 16th century

Giovanni da Cavino

Associated Names
Giovanni da Cavino

Artist, Paduan, 1500 - 1570

This is a photograph of an ancient coin featuring a detailed profile. The coin has a golden hue and bears the intricately engraved profile of a bearded figure with curly hair, wearing a laurel wreath. Surrounding the figure is a Latin inscription that runs along the edge of the coin, and a border of raised dots encircles it.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze//Struck

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 3.78 cm (1 1/2 in.)
    gross weight: 36.76 gr (0.081 lb.)
    axis: 5:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.999.a

Associated Artworks

This is a photograph of an ancient coin. The coin depicts a scene in high relief, featuring two standing figures, one of which appears to be presenting an object to a seated figure. The seated figure is adorned in draped clothing and holds a staff or scepter. There is another figure on the right side with wings. The figures are encircled by a beaded border, and an inscription "COS III" is visible at the bottom. The coin has a rich golden hue, reflecting the detailed craftsmanship of ancient coinage.

Roma, the Emperor, and Victory [reverse]

Giovanni da Cavino

1525


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Gustave Dreyfus [1837-1914], Paris; his heirs; purchased with the entire Dreyfus collection 9 July 1930 by (Duveen Brothers, Inc., London, New York, and Paris); sold 31 January 1944 to the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, New York;[1] gift 1957 to NGA.
[1] The Duveen Brothers Records document the firm’s sixteen year pursuit and eventual acquisition of the Dreyfus collection, which included paintings, sculptures, small bronzes, medals, and plaquettes. Bequeathed as part of his estate to Dreyfus’ widow and five children (a son and four daughters), who had differing opinions about its disposition, the collection was not sold until after his widow’s death in April 1929. Duveen did not wish to separate Dreyfus’ collection of small bronzes, medals, and plaquettes, and it was sold intact to the Kress Foundation for a price that was met by installment payments every three months. (Duveen Brothers Records, accession number 960015, Research Library, The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles: reel 301, box 446, folders 3 and 4; reel 302, box 447, folders 1-6; reel 303, box 448, folders 1 and 2; reel 330, box 475, folder 4.) See also George Francis Hill’s discussion "A Note on Pedigrees" in his catalogue, The Gustave Dreyfus Collection: Renaissance Medals, Oxford, 1931: xii, which was commissioned by Duveen Brothers.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1967

  • Hill, George Francis, and Graham Pollard. Renaissance Medals from the Samuel H. Kress Collection at the National Gallery of Art. London, 1967: no. 406.

2007

  • Pollard, John Graham. Renaissance Medals. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. 2 vols. Washington, 2007: 1:no. 463, repro.

Inscriptions

around circumference: ANTONINVS AVG[ustus] PIVS P[ater] P[atriae]TR[ibunicia] P[otestate] XVI

Wikidata ID

Q63851654

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