L. Titurius L.f. Sabinus, 89 BC. Denarius (Silver, 17 mm, 3.75 g, 11 h), Rome. 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 right hands who are about to cast their shields at her; above, star in crescent. Babelon (Tituria) 4. Crawford 344/2b. RBW 1301. Sydenham 699. Darkly toned. Some scratches and with a banker's mark on the obverse, otherwise, good fine.


Shortly after Rome's founding by Romulus, the nascent Roman state found itself in dire straits, as there were not enough women to sustain the population for long. Although the Romans entreated their neighbors for the right to marry their women, none were particularly inclined to agree, as they feared it would grow Rome's power. A plot was then devised by the Romans: they would organize a festival in honor of Neptunus Equestris to which they would invite their neighbors, and at a given signal, they would take the women by force, as depicted on the reverse of this denarius.

Unsurprisingly, war quickly followed, and though the Romans were initially successful, the Sabines, under leadership of their king, Titus Tatius, who is depicted on the obverse of our denarius, nearly captured Rome. As the battle raged, the Sabine women intervened, throwing themselves between their husbands and fathers in hopes of ending the bloodshed. Peace was concluded, and the Sabines joined the Romans as one nation, with Titus Tatius ruling jointly with Romulus, thus securing the future of the Roman state.