Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XXII 7-8 Oct 2021
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Augustus AR Denarius. Rome, 19-18 BC. P. Petronius Turpilianus, moneyer. CAESAR AVGVSTVS, bare head to right / TVRPILIANVS III VIR, Tarpeia standing facing, raising both hands, buried to her waist under ten shields; broken spear below. RIC I 299; BMCRE 29; RSC 494. 3.85g, 19mm, 1h.
Good Extremely Fine; bold iridescent tones - a superb example of this sought-after type.
Ex Jonathan P. Rosen Collection;
Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XIV, 21 September 2017, lot 662 (sold for £5,500);
Ex A. Tkalec AG, 23 October 1998, lot 106.
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 dishonesty 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.
Ex Jonathan P. Rosen Collection;
Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XIV, 21 September 2017, lot 662 (sold for £5,500);
Ex A. Tkalec AG, 23 October 1998, lot 106.
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 dishonesty was viewed unfavourably by those she acquiesced to, who threw down their shields on her, crushing her to death.