Fides was celebrated both as a deity and as an allegorical figure. She personified good faith, confidence and loyalty. During the forties BC Fides' head, crowned with either an olive wreath (peace) or a laurel wreath (victory), appeared on coin obverses of the Licinii. On reverse types her attributes included a cornucopia, patera, fruit basket, spear or corn ears.

Imperial coin reverse types depict Fides Militum (confidence of the army) either seated, or standing between two or three military standards, or holding a military standard and vexillum (flag). As indicated on the antoniniani above of Florian (left) and Tacitus (right), reverse legends usually display the virtue of the army (Fides Militum), the loyalty of the infantry (Fides Exercitum) or cavalry (Fides Equitum). Other reverse types include two right hands clasped, sometimes holding corn ears, a caduceus or poppy stems together with the legend Fides Publica - imperial propaganda emphasised the confidence of the people.