TYPE Roman Republic, L. Titurius L. f. Sabinus (moneyer), 89 BC, silver denarius DESCRIPTION . Obv: Bare head of King Tatius to r., SABIN behind, TA before Rev: Tarpeia facing, rasing hands to ward shields coming from two Roman soldiers flanking her, L TITVRI in ex. REFERENCE: Syd 699, SR 264, Tit 4 GRADING: F+ ORDER INFO: R2612, $82 Interesting reverse (with thematically related obverse) showing the mythological motif of Tarpeia buried under shields. Like the tale of the rape of the Sabine women, it goes back to the Sabines - an ancient people of Italy, led by the semi-legendary figure of king Tatius, and credited with having shown early resistance to Roman expansionism. They were thus accorded a somewhat privileged status in Roman tradition, with certain nobility claiming their descent, and the mentioned twin salutary myths casting the Sabine tribe and their leader in a positive and honorable role. Tarpeia's spineless treachery - even though it bought gains to Tatius and the Sabines - led them to punish her, in a cruel twist of both fate and semantics, with "what they carried on their arms" - shields, rather than the gold bracelets she had envisioned.