Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XIV 21 Sep 2017
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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; RSC 494; BMC 29. 3.85g, 19mm, 1h.
Good Extremely Fine. Bold iridescent tones. A superb example of this sought-after type.
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 humilite 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 dishonesty was viewed unfavourably by those she acquiesed 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.
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 humilite 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 dishonesty was viewed unfavourably by those she acquiesed to, who threw down their shields on her, crushing her to death.