Sabina coins Roman Imperial catalog
Empress Vibia Sabina (85-137), wife of Hadrian
Sabina was the daughter of Lucius Vibius
Sabinus, consul in 97 AD, and Matidia, niece of Emperor Trajan.
Sabina married Hadrian, who was almost ten years older than her,
at the age of about 15. At that time he was only on the
threshold of a magnificent career. At this time Adrian became a
quaestor. The marriage was arranged by Trajan's wife Plotina,
who was a friend of Matidia.
Plotina then actively helped Hadrian, and did everything in her
power to have the emperor officially adopt Hadrian (in 117,
shortly before his own death). Hadrian appreciated this and in
every way showed his gratitude to both Plotina and Matidia.
About his wife, Hadrian said: "If I were not a public man, I
would have divorced her long ago - so much in her stubbornness
and so disgusting character!".
Sabine in debt did not remain: "How right I was, trying not to
get pregnant from him - it could lead to the death of the entire
human race!". What was wrong in their relationship, now it is
difficult to find out.
But in general, contemporaries assessed the character of Hadrian
quite critically, noting irritability, pettiness and envy.
Sabina, too, was clearly not an ideal.
In 122, the emperor dismissed the Praetorian prefect Septicius
Clarus and secretary Suetonius Tranquillus (the same, the author
of the book "Life of the 12 Caesars"), accusing them of
disrespecting the imperial house, namely in too free relations
with his wife.
Probably with time the spouses somehow managed to get along,
because in 128 Sabina received the title of Augusta. At the same
time they went on a long trip to the eastern provinces, from
where they returned only in 132.
Sabina had no influence on politics, contenting herself with the
role of the emperor's official companion. According to some
reports, Hadrian treated his wife as a slave. Rumor has it that
he had something to do with her death - whether he drove her to
suicide, or directly poisoned. Of course, there is no
confirmation of this, but the rumors themselves already speak
about the relationship in the family.
Sabina died at the end of 136 or at the beginning of 137. She
was deified and posthumously received her own temple.
SABINA AVGVSTA
IVNONI REGINAE
denarius 128-137
silver
Rome
18 mm.
Diademed, draped bust right / Sabina Augusta
Juno, holding patera and scepter / Juno Ruling
Value - $70-90
Coins of Sabina in the catalog are presented divided by historical periods, indicating the main characteristics and differences by type.
Inside the sections, the coins are sorted by denomination - from large to small.
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