L. Titurius L.f. Sabinus. 89 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.88 g, 11h). Rome mint. EF.

Triton XXVII
Lot: 584. Estimated: $ 500

Roman Republican, Coin-in-Hand Video, Silver

Sold For $ 1 300. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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L. Titurius L.f. Sabinus. 89 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.88 g, 11h). Rome mint. Bearded head right of the Sabine king, Tatius; SABIN downward to left, palm frond to right / 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; L • TITVRI in exergue. Crawford 344/2b; Sydenham 699; Tituria 4; BMCRR Rome 2328; Kestner 3007-10; RBW 1301. Deep iridescent toning. EF.

Ex Archer M. Huntington Collection [ANS 1001.1.22556] (Triton XX, 10 January 2017), lot 513.

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.

The final winners of all Triton XXVII lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 9-10 January 2024.

Triton XXVII – Session Two – Lot 338–647 will be held Tuesday afternoon, 9 January 2024 beginning at 2:00 PM 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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