2022-05-31 Tue

Ancient Roman coins are known for featuring an abundance of female figures. Many of the women on the Roman coins were placed there because of a familial relationship to the ruler, but women certainly had a place in this most public of media nearly 2,000 years ago.

Sabina, the wife of Hadrianus, appears on the obverse of a silver denarius of ancient Rome circa A.D. 128 to 126 marking her elevation to the title Augusta. Sabina was the daughter of Salonia Matidia and a grandniece of Trajan.

She was granted the title of Augusta in A.D. 128 and died in A.D. 136, preceding her husband by about 18 months. A special coinage, including this piece, was issued to commemorate her consecration. The obverse of the coin depicts a draped bust on the right with hair waved, rising into crest on top above diadem, knotted in the queue, falling down the back of the neck.

The reverse of the coin depicts Concordia- the goddess who embodies agreement in marriage and society - seated left with patera in the right hand and resting her left elbow on a statue of Spes - the goddess of hope and cornucopia under the chair.

Image Courtesy: coinworld.com