Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius (18.5mm, 4.02 g, 10h). Rome mint; P. Petronius Turpilianus, moneyer. Struck 19-18 BC. Good VF.

CNG Feature Auction 124
Lot: 599. Estimated: $ 750

Roman Imperial, Coin-in-Hand Video, Silver

Sold For $ 7 500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius (18.5mm, 4.02 g, 10h). Rome mint; P. Petronius Turpilianus, moneyer. Struck 19-18 BC. Bare head right / Tarpeia standing facing, raising both hands, buried to her waist under shields; broken spear below. RIC I 299; RSC 494. Old collection tone, some iridescence, a couple of bankers’ marks, a few scratches under tone on reverse, traces of die rust. Good VF.

From the Libertas Collection. Ex Frederick S. Knobloch Collection (Stack’s, 1 May 1980), lot 22; H. C. Levis Collection (Ars Classica XI, 18 June 1925), lot 239.

In the story of the abduction of the Sabine women, Tarpeia was a Vestal Virgin who betrayed the city of Rome to the Sabines when they were attempting to rescue their wives and daughters. Her price for betraying Rome was what the Sabine soldiers wore on their left arms, meaning their gold bracelets, but the Sabines were so offended by Tarpeia's reprehensible greed and treason that they took her request literally. She met her death under the crushing weight of the soldiers’ shields.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 124 lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 19-20 September 2023. This lot is in Session Three, which will begin 20 September at 9 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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