This coin is a denarius issued in the year 89 BC by Lucius Titurius Sabinus, a moneyer of the Roman Republic.
The obverse of the coin features a profile portrait of the King of the Sabines Titus Tatius facing right, with the inscription “SABIN” to the left of the portrait, indicating the king’s name, and the letters “TA” to the right. The reverse depicts two Roman soldiers, each carrying a Sabine woman, with the inscription “L ·TITVRI” below, which represents the mint mark of Lucius Titurius Sabinus.
Denarius:
The denarius was a small silver coin introduced by ancient Rome around 211 BC and was one of the most common currencies in circulation until it was gradually replaced by the Antoninianus in the mid-3rd century during the Roman Empire.
Abduction of the Sabine Women:
The legend of the Sabine Women tells of an early instance when the Romans, seeking to establish familial ties with the surrounding tribes, proposed intermarriage with the Sabines, who refused the proposal. Following the failure of negotiations, the Romans orchestrated a mass abduction of Sabine women. The incident culminated in a treaty between the Sabines and Romans, uniting them under a single nation and permitting marriages between Sabine women and Roman men. This episode, a foundational myth of Rome, has been a frequent subject of artistic representation, though its historical accuracy remains debated.
Titus Tatius is celebrated in legend as a Sabine ruler who led his people in an epic conflict against the Romans, and following the cessation of hostilities, he co-ruled Rome with its founder, Romulus. As a descendant of this legendary figure, Lucius Titurius Sabinus took pride in his lineage and commemorated his ancestor’s deeds by minting this coin, which depicts his ancestor’s portrait.
