Diva Sabina, died 136/7. Denarius (Silver, 18 mm, 3.43 g, 6 h), Rome, 138. DIVA AVG SABINA Diademed, veiled and draped bust of Diva Sabina to right. Rev. CONSECRATIO Eagle standing left on scepter, wings spread and head turned back to right. BMC 957 note. Cohen 34. RIC 2605 (this coin cited and illustrated on pl. 46). A beautifully toned example of fine style and with an excellent pedigree. A few light marks, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.


Vibia Sabina was a most enigmatic empress, conspicuous almost for how little we know about her. A grandniece of Trajan, Sabina grew up in the imperial household and would marry Hadrian, a distant relative, in 100 under the auspices of Plotina, Trajan’s wife, who strongly favored Hadrian as the emperor’s successor. It would prove a deeply unhappy union. Their personalities clashed, Hadrian seems to have purposefully kept Sabina away from any meaningful power, and he had a clear proclivity for men, very openly enjoying his escapades (such as with the young Antinoüs).

The couple remained childless, perhaps at the instigation of Sabina. In 122, two of Sabina’s associates, possibly even friends, were relieved of their posts (including the famed biographer, Suetonius) for being too familiar with the empress. Indeed, it is said that Hadrian would have divorced the empress for her bad temper too, had they been private citizens (SHA, Hadrian, 11.3). Despite this animosity, Sabina was the first empress to have a regular coinage struck in her name and Hadrian did not shirk from his duty in commemorating her death, if not out of love, then at least under pressure of social norms.