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After Memling's Portrait of Man with a Coin of the Emperor Nero

Roman Coin

Coin of Nero (Aureus), 64-68, Roman. Gold, Diameter: 3/8 in., Seattle Art Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Max Lachman, 75.39.

Coin of Nero (Aureus), 64-68, Roman. Gold, Diameter: 3/8 in., Seattle Art Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Max Lachman, 75.39.

Whereas the subject of Hans Memling’s 15th-century portrait holds a Roman coin discretely in the lower right corner of the canvas, Wiley’s sitter delicately presents the same coin with an arm stretched out towards the viewer. In the contemporary context the coin points to capitalism, but also connects to the original sitter’s claim to an ancient pedigree.