Sabina, wife of Roman Emperor Hadrian, was a prominent figure in the Roman Empire during the 2nd century AD.
Vibia Sabina was born in 83 AD and married Hadrian around 100 AD, likely as a political arrangement. Despite the strategic importance of their marriage, historical accounts suggest that their relationship was strained and marked by discord.
Sabina was a significant figure in the Roman imperial family, not only for her connections to Trajan and Hadrian but also for her role in shaping the image of the Roman empress as an active participant in governance and public affairs. Sabina’s life reflects the complexities of political marriages in ancient Rome and the challenges faced by women in positions of power.
Coins depicting Vibia Sabina are valuable artifacts of Roman history. These coins were minted across the Roman Empire and often celebrated her as an idealized symbol of Roman womanhood, beauty, and virtue.
Coins often include her name and titles, such as SABINA AVGUSTA or VIBIA SABINA.
The use of “Augusta” indicates her status as empress and underscores her importance in the imperial hierarchy.
The reverse (back) of coins frequently depicts symbolic or allegorical figures, such as:
– Venus: Representing beauty, love, and fertility.
– Concordia: Symbolizing harmony, often interpreted as a reference to marital or imperial unity.
– Juno: Denoting the queen of the gods and a protector of marriage.
– Ceres: Representing abundance and the prosperity of the empire.
Sabina’s image on coins was part of a broader propaganda effort. These coins were not only monetary instruments, but also a means of spreading her idealized image throughout the empire and reinforcing the legitimacy and stability of Hadrian’s rule.
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Aureus 128-129 Sabina, Extremely Rare, Gold, MS(60-62)
98,775.00 US$
Weight: 7.24 g – Diameter: 21.50 mm
Mint mark: Rome
From the Isar Collection., Bust of Sabina, wearing double stephane with hair braided and piled, draped, left., Vesta seated left on a throne with a footstool, holding palladium in her right hand and a scepter in her left., Absolutely sublime specimen, with almost no trace of circulation, and also of the greatest rarity, and by far the most beautiful of the only 5 examples to have been seen in sales over the last 20 years. Extremely well centered, with a slight irregularity in the flan, this is a true museum masterpiece. Near Mint State. This coin comes from a strike issued shortly after Sabina was proclaimed Augusta, in 128. A title that made Hadrian’s wife a leading figure in the imperial family, resulting in numerous issues in her name, far more than any other empress before her. She is celebrated here by a sublime portrait in very high relief, in which she wears a double stephanè to complete a hairstyle of superb elegance. A portrait which, as far as we know, was very close to the reality. It was the poet Julia Balbilla, a Roman aristocrat from the royal family of Commagene, who described her as being very close to the imperial couple, even accompanying them to Egypt in 130. She was of great beauty, and like all empresses, a model for the women of the Roman aristocracy. Added to this is, an absolutely splendid representation of Vesta on the reverse, whose emphasis on the details of the seated divinity demonstrates the engraver’s skill in sublimating both the portrait of the empress and the representation of one of the principal divinities associated with the female personalities of the imperial family. Despite the importance of the facade shown by coinages such as this aureus, it was well known that the imperial couple’s marriage was unhappy. Although Sabine accompanied the emperor on his many travels, they had no children, Hadrian preferring his favorite, Antinous, or other women. Sabina died in late 136 or early 137, of an unknown cause, possibly poisoned. Hadrian is suspected of having ordered the murder, although there is no evidence against him. From the Isar Collection. Same dies as RIC II, Part 3² Hadrian 2485 (British Museum). Calicó 1421; BMCRE 927 (Hadrian, same dies)., SABINA AVGVSTA HADRIANI AVG P P
Roman Empire Sestertius 117-138 AD. Sabina, Exquisite style, good very fine tiber patina.
2,290.00 US$
Material: Bronze
Weight: 23.94 g – Diameter: 33.00 mm
Catalog: Coh;65 Ric; 474
SABINA AVGVSTA HADRIAN AVG PP, draped bust right, wearing double stephane and hair coiled and piled on top of head.
rev; Vesta sitting on the left, holds the palladium her right hand, and scepter in her left, SC ,in exergue.
Ex NAC Zurigo 30-3-2000 lot 474
Roman Empire AE Sestertius c.130-133 AD Sabina VF/GVF, dark brown patina
1,820.00 US$
Material: Bronze
Weight: 25.33 g – Diameter: 32.50 mm
Catalog: RIC 1025 ; Cohen 15
Roman Empire – Sabina (Augusta, 128-136) – Fine Style
Obv.: Draped bust of Sabina, diademed, wearing stephane with hair in queue, to right: SABINA AVGVSTA – HADRIANI AVG PP
Rev.: Concordia seated left, holding patera and resting arm on Spes; usually below throne, cornucopia : CONCORDIA AVG / S C (in exergue)
Provenance: Ex Kunst und Münzen (Lugano) XXIX (20-21/05/1993) ; sold with old handwritten collector’s label mentioning the auction provenance.
Roman Imperial Denarius 138 AD. Diva Sabina aEF
1,820.00 US$
Material: Silver
Weight: 2.76 g – Diameter: 16.00 mm
Catalog: RIC (Hadrian) 421; RIC2 2605; BMC 957 note.
Obv.: DIVA AUG SABINA; veiled and draped bust of Sabina to the right, wearing wreath of grain ears.
Rev.: CONSECRATIO; eagle, with spread wings, standing to the left on sceptre, head turned to the right.
Ref.: Ex Lanz 151 (München 2011), lot 745; ex Künker 318 (Osnabrück 2019), lot 1252.
Rare. Light iridescent toning.
Roman Empire Sestertius 117-138 AD Sabina VF (40/70)
1,665.00 US$
Material: Bronze
Weight: 25.81 g – Diameter: 32.90 mm
Catalog: R.I.C., 1036; Cohen, 82; Cayon, 30
Issue: 117-138 AD, D/ SABINA AVGVSTA HADRIANI AVG P P, draped bust r., R/ VESTA S C, Vesta seated l., holding palladium and scepter, Zecca di Roma
References: R.I.C., 1036; Cohen, 82; Cayon, 30; Metal: AE / Bronze / ?????? / Brons / Bronce / Bronzo,
PROVENANCE: Ex Kuenker 326 n. 1413.
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