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L. Titurius L.f. Sabinus. 89 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 4.20 g, 11h). Rome mint. Bearded head right of the Sabine king, Tatius; palm frond below chin / Tarpeia facing, buried to her waist in shields, with raised hands she tries to thrust off two soldiers who are about to cast their shields at her; star in crescent above. Crawford 344/2b; Sydenham 699; Tituria 4; RBW 1301. Lightly toned, areas of weakness. VF.
From the Quietus Collection, purchased 29 March 2018.
There are two variant legends concerning Tarpeia, a maiden of Rome's mythical founding years. One story, probably the earliest, holds that she agreed to betray Rome to the Sabines by opening the city gates, in return for which she would receive what the Sabine soldiers wore on their left arms. She meant their heavy golden bracelets, but after the deed, the soldiers "rewarded" her buy crushing her under their shields, which they also "wore" on their left arms. A later version of the story holds that Tarpeia was in fact trying to save Rome by disarming the Sabines and thus died a martyr's death. The legends are probably an attempt to explain the name of the Tarpeian Rock, a promontory on Capitoline Hill from which criminals were thrown to their deaths.
Closing Date and Time: 29 November 2023 at 11:43:00 ET.
All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.
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