Sabina                88 - 137

Wife of Hadrian. Sabina was married to Hadrian at the age of twelve and the two never got along well. While Hadrian accused her of nagging the real problem seems to be her inability to accept her husband's relationship with Antinous, the young slave boy who was the true love of his life. The rumor mill of the time whispered that Hadrian had her commit suicide or that he poisoned her himself. However, both these options seem unlikely in the face of her consecration by him as well as the fact that he had long before accepted his marriage. By the time she died he was gravely ill himself and would not survive her for more than a year.


 

AR Denarius ca. 120--136 A.D.

Rome

2.8 g., 18 mm.

Obv. SABINA AVGVSTA: Diademed and draped bust right

Rev. CONCORDIA AVG: Concordia seated left, holding patera and scepter

C. 12v., Van Meter 1v.