L. TITURIUS L.F. SABINUS. Denarius (89 BC). Rome.

Obv: SABIN.
Bareheaded and bearded head of King Tatius right; palm frond to lower right.
Rev: L TITVRI.
Tarpeia facing, buried to her waist in shields, with raised hands she tries to thrust of two soldiers who are about to cast their shields at her; star in crescent above.

Crawford 344/2b; RBW 1301.

After the abduction of their women, the Sabines, led by King Titus Tatius (depicted on the obverse), managed to take possession of the Capitoline Hill thanks to the betrayal of Tarpeia, who opened the gates of the citadel to them. There are two versions of this myth, told by Propertius and Livy. The former presents the vestal virgin's betrayal as a consequence of her love for the king of the Sabines. According to Livy, however, Tarpeia was bribed by the enemy's gold: when she went outside the walls to draw water for the cult of Vesta, she was captured and punished for her behavior, ending up buried and crushed by the Sabine shields as illustrated on the reverse of the Denarius.

Condition: Very fine.

Weight: 4.04 g.
Diameter: 20 mm.