L Titurius L.f. Sabinus AR Denarius – L.TITVRI

Silver Roman Republican Denarius of L Titurius L.f. Sabinus

Obv: Head of Taitus facing right, SABIN behind, palm before.

Rev: 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. L.TITVRI in ex.

89 BC. · Rome Mint · Cr 344/1b; Tituria 4; Syd 699

3.3g · 18.1mm

In Roman legend, Tarpeia was a Vestal Virgin who betrayed the city of Rome to the Sabines at the time of their women’s abduction for what she thought would be a reward of jewelry. She was instead crushed to death by Sabine shields and her body cast from the southern cliff of Rome’s Capitoline Hill, thereafter called after her the Tarpeian Rock