Solidus

Label

Early forms of metal currency were based on the weight and value of their materials, which allowed their exchange outside of their home regions. Since coins were so portable, however, they also served as a perfect vehicle for statements of power by the rulers who produced them. The Roman aureus and the Byzantine solidi each bear the likeness of the ruler who issued the coins: Titus I, Constans II, and Michael VII. The opposite side of each coin features a symbol to convey how the rulers wanted to present their reign, such as a religious figure or an architectural triumph. The pattern established by ancient coins is still recognizable in contemporary coinage. At the time of its issue, the $10 Golden Eagle was the largest denomination produced in the United States. The size of the coin and the sheen of the gold communicated expense, while the figure of Liberty and the Great Shield of the United States evoked the power of the country. The American Gold Prospector, despite similarities to the coins in this grouping, is not a circulating coin at all. It is a form of bullion, or bulk precious metal that is valued by weight rather than as minted currency. While the weight of the object remains the same, the monetary value of gold itself can shift, taking us back to the origins of the use of gold for currency.

From the 2024 exhibition Gold: Materiality, Morality, and Metaphor, curated by Ashley Offill, Curator of Collections

Course History

History 44.02, Arts of Power, from Augustus to the Sun King, M. Cecilia Gaposchkin, Spring 2023

Art History 17.06, The Arts of the Middle Ages, Nick Camerlenghi, Fall 2023

History 44.02, Arts of Power, Cecilia Gaposchkin, Winter 2025

Exhibition History

Gold: Materiality, Morality, and Metaphor, Harrington Gallery, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, February 14, 2024.

Provenance

Harmer and Rooke Numismatists, Ltd, 1983; Virginia Williamson, 1983-1990; given to present collection, 1990.

This record is part of an active database that includes information from historic documentation that may not have been recently reviewed. Information may be inaccurate or incomplete. We also acknowledge some language and imagery may be offensive, violent, or discriminatory. These records reflect the institution’s history or the views of artists or scholars, past and present. Our collections research is ongoing.

We welcome questions, feedback, and suggestions for improvement. Please contact us at: Hood.Collections@dartmouth.edu

Subjects