L. Titurius L.f. Sabinus, 89 BC. Denarius (Silver, 18 mm, 2.74 g, 8 h), a contemporary plated imitation. Irregular mint. SABIN Bare-headed and bearded head of King Titus Tatius to right; in lower field to right, palm frond. Rev. L•TITVRI Tarpeia, facing and buried to her waist in shields, thrusting off two soldiers with her hands who are about to cast their shields at her; above, star in crescent. Cf. Babelon (Tituria) 4, Crawford 344/2b, RBW 1301 and Sydenham 699 (for prototype). Porous and with almost all the plating missing, otherwise, very fine.


Only a small patch of silver on the reverse shows that this is the bronze core of a once-plated denarius. The soft, washed-out details are because most of the strike was taken by the silver plating - now almost entirely gone - so the base-metal core beneath was only weakly impressed.