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
Coin 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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