Chronology of Sabina’s coinage at the Roman mint

Abstract

This paper presents an attempt to construct a chronology for Sabina’s coinage for the revision to the typology of the Roman Imperial Coinage for Hadrian (RIC II. 2). Sabina was omitted from the coinage during the first half of the reign, while imperial ladies such as Plotina and Matidia continued to be so honoured by Hadrian. The situation is completely reversed around the time of the emperor’s adoption of the title pater patriae in AD 128. A regular coinage in Sabina’s name in gold, silver and copper alloy then continues until the end of the reign. Thus for the years AD 128-138 we can trace the development of the empress coinage combining the evolving obverse legend, the changing reverse types and the progress of hairstyle fashion. Comparison to the hairstyles on dated provincial coinage helps to propose a series for the mint of Rome with relatively close dating.