Naked Bodies on Roman Coins

Ancient coins are small. Nevertheless, the imagery on them is astonishingly rich and varied. They depict emperors, gods, heroes, victories, rivers, peace, prosperity, and the world order. Some of the figures depicted on the coins are strikingly scantily clad. What at first appears to be a matter of ancient fashion is actually part of a strictly regulated visual language. Nudity on Roman coins is not a coincidence and is not necessarily intended to be erotic.

As early as the mid-18^th century, Johann Joachim Winckelmann — widely considered to be the founder of classical archaeology and modern art history — described the depiction of deities as nude, citing the example of Poseidon on coins from Poseidonia (Paestum). The fact that ancient nudity still moves us today, and can carry political implications, was demonstrated during Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's state visit to Rome in January 2016. During this visit, several nude statues in the Capitoline Museums were covered with wooden crates and boards.

This exhibition was developed during the winter semester of 2025/26 as part of a course at the Institute of Classical Archaeology, led by Stefan Krmnicek. The project is part of the Collaborative Research Centre 1391, 'Different Aesthetics'. Consequently, the exhibition focuses on the significance of the nude body in Roman coin imagery and its qualities as a 'different aesthetic'.

The digital exhibition will be available on the eMuseum platform of the Digital Coin Cabinet at the University of Tübingen's Institute of Classical Archaeology from November 17th, 2026. It is presented in cooperation with the University of Tübingen Museum MUT.
 

Tuesday, November 17th, 2026, at 4 p.m.

Museum Ancient Cultures | Hohentübingen Castle
Burgsteige 11 | 72070 Tübingen

The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue of the same title, as an open access publication. For further information please consult the exhibition's official website.