Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XVIII 29 Sep 2019
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Augustus AR Denarius. Rome, 19-18 BC. P. Petronius Turpilianus, moneyer. CAESAR AVGVSTVS, bare head right / TVRPILIANVS III VIR, Tarpeia standing facing, raising both hands, buried to her waist under ten shields; broken spear below. RIC 299; BMCRE 29; RSC 494. 3.87g, 20mm, 10h.
Good Extremely Fine; bold iridescent tones. A superb example of this sought-after type, with a considerably superior reverse to the example sold at Roma Numismatics XIV, 2017, lot 662 for £5,500.
Ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger, Auction 366, 25 October 2000, lot 1274;
Ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger, Auction 343, 26 April 1995, lot 346.
The moral message afforded by the early Republican story of Tarpeia, the daughter of the commander of Rome's defences who betrayed the city and opened the gates to the Sabines, was the perfect motif with which Augustus chose to highlight and humiliate those such as M. Egnatius Rufus, who was accused of plotting against him. Expecting to be made rich with gold for the betrayal of her city, Tarpeia instead found that her treachery was viewed unfavourably by those she acquiesced to, who threw down their shields on her, crushing her to death.
Good Extremely Fine; bold iridescent tones. A superb example of this sought-after type, with a considerably superior reverse to the example sold at Roma Numismatics XIV, 2017, lot 662 for £5,500.
Ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger, Auction 366, 25 October 2000, lot 1274;
Ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger, Auction 343, 26 April 1995, lot 346.
The moral message afforded by the early Republican story of Tarpeia, the daughter of the commander of Rome's defences who betrayed the city and opened the gates to the Sabines, was the perfect motif with which Augustus chose to highlight and humiliate those such as M. Egnatius Rufus, who was accused of plotting against him. Expecting to be made rich with gold for the betrayal of her city, Tarpeia instead found that her treachery was viewed unfavourably by those she acquiesced to, who threw down their shields on her, crushing her to death.