Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14.

AR Denarius (20mm, 3.88 g, 12h). Rome mint.

P. Petronius Turpilianus, moneyer. Struck 19-18 BC.

Bare head right

Tarpeia standing facing, wearing tunic, raising both hands, buried to her waist under ten shields.

RIC I 299; RSC 494.

VF, lightly toned, obverse banker’s marks, graffiti (“N”) on reverse.

Tarpeia was a Vestal Virgin that betrayed the city of Rome to the Sabines when they were attempting to rescue their wives and daughters. As payment for her betrayal, she demanded she be given what the Sabine soldiers wore on their left arms, meaning their gold bracelets. The Sabines were offended by Tarpeia's reprehensible greed and treason, and took her demand literally. She met her death under the crushing weight of the soldiers' shields.