Roman Denarius Coin

Inv. No.: c038
Provenance: L. Titurius L.f. Sabinus
Date: 88 B.C.
Weight: 4.03g
 
Obv.: Head of Tatius, bearded, palm branch below chin.
SABIN

Rev.: Two Roman soldiers facing each other, each carrying a woman.
L.TITVRI

The head of the Sabine king Titus Tatius and the reference to the abduction of the Sabine women clearly suggest a Sabine origin for the moneyer family. According to tradition, Tatius was a Sabine king who, after the Romans abducted the Sabine women, captured the Capitol with the aid of the perfidious Tarpeia. Other theories are that he was merely the eponym of the Tities tribe, or that his alleged joint reign with Romulus was made up to provide a precedent for collegiate magistracies such as the consulship.

Presented by the Classics and Ancient History Students Society.

Comparanda:
S 698a.