Lot 4797

Description

Augustus, (27 B.C. - A.D. 14), silver denarius, Rome mint, issued c.19 B.C. by P.Petronius Turpilianus, (3.65 g), obv. bare head of Augustus to right around CAESAR AVGVSTVS, rev. TVRPILIANVS III VIR around, Tarpeia, long-haired facing half buried in shields with hands raised, (S.1639, RIC 299, RSC 494, BMC 29). Minor surface marks, otherwise nearly very fine and very rare.

Ex Dr. Adrian Carr Collection and purchased from Jeff Phillips. The type refers to the Sabine origin of the Petronia gens. A temple of the divinites Liber, Libera and Ceres was vowed by the dictator Aulus Postumius in 495 B.C., after consulting the copy of the Sibylline books which Petronius Sabinus is said to have made. This temple was restored by Augustus.