Disclosed are thermally-stable, anthraquinone colorant compounds (dyes) which contain one or more vinyl groups which render the compounds copolymerizable with reactive vinyl monomers to produce colored, polymeric compositions such as acrylate and methacrylate polymeric materials. The compounds possess good fastness (stability) to ultraviolet (UV) light, good solubility in vinyl monomers, good color strength and excellent thermal stability. Also disclosed are (1) coating composition comprising (i) one or more polymerizable vinyl compounds, (ii) one or more of the dye compounds described above, and (iii) a photoinitiator and (2) polymeric materials, i.e., polymers derived from one or more acrylic acid esters, one or more methacrylic acid esters, one or more other polymerizable vinyl compounds or mixtures of any two or more thereof, having copolymerized therein one or more of the anthraquinone colorant compounds.