Bare head of Augustus facing right on obverse. Tarpeia standing facing on reverse, raising both hands and buried to her waist under shields, with a broken spear below.

Augustus, the first Roman emperor, had by 19 BC consolidated his authority and was issuing a sustained moneyer coinage at Rome that drew freely on legendary themes from the city's distant past.

Tarpeia was the Vestal who, in the foundational legends of Rome, betrayed the citadel to the Sabines in exchange for what they wore on their arms, and was crushed to death beneath their shields; the moneyer P. Petronius Turpilianus revived her image as part of the antiquarian program of Augustan coinage.

Old iridescent cabinet toning, banker's mark on obverse, numerous cleaning scratches, struck slightly off center, edge marks

Old collection tone with some iridescence. A couple of bankers' marks and a few scratches under tone on reverse. Traces of die rust.

Iridescent tone with shallow cleaning scratches under tone, traces of deposits, minor flan flaw on obverse. Well struck.

Minor porosity present. Overall pleasing example.


1/23/25	$350	VF	CNG	— 0%
9/20/23	$7,500	VF	CNG	▲ +2043%
1/14/20	$4,500	XF	CNG	▼ −12%
8/20/19	$264	VF	Stack's Bowers	▼ −25%

Denarius of AugustusRIC I 299

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