Denarius of L. Titurius L.f. Sabinus, Rome 89 - 88 BCE

Curator: This is a denarius, a Roman silver coin. This particular one was crafted by L. Titurius L.f. Sabinus, a moneyer in Rome. Editor: It's got this weighty, almost melancholic feel, doesn't it? The figures seem caught in a silent, silvery dance. Curator: Precisely. The imagery on the reverse depicts the Sabine women being carried off, a key myth in Roman foundation narratives. It highlights themes of conquest, assimilation, and the construction of Roman identity. Editor: Wow, a narrative of power and subjugation—frozen in metal. I wonder, what did the Sabine women think about being immortalized this way? Curator: That's the critical question, isn't it? Whose story are we really telling when we display this object? Its presence compels us to consider the complexities of historical representation and its implications for contemporary discourse. Editor: Makes you think about who gets to write history, even on a coin. A tiny, shiny history lesson, heavy with nuance.