Watch List notes:

JDL Collection Part II: Roman Coins
THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

In the name of Sabina, died c. 137.

Struck by Hadrian, August 11, 117–July 10, 138.
Sestertius, Rome 130, Æ 26.11 g.
Obv. SABINA AVGVSTA – HADRIANI AVG P P Draped
and diademed bust of Sabina left, hair tied in plait at back; border of dots.
Rev. PIE–TAS / S C Veiled Pietas seated left, holding patera in right hand and sceptre in left; border of dots.
Literature
Cohen 50
BMC RE III, 536, 1873 RIC II, 477, 1029b (corr.)
Banti 18 (this coin)
M.-M. Bendenoun, Coins of the Ancient World, A portrait of the JDL Collection, Tradart, Genève, 2009, 59 (this coin)
Condition
Very rare and in unusually fine condition for this very diffi- cult issue. A magnificent portrait in the finest style of period and an attractive dark brown tone, about extremely fine / extemely fine.

Provenance
M. Ratto, Fixed Price List II -1948, lot 51. Numismatik Lanz 94, München 1999, lot 527. Former Benz collection.
The marriage of Hadrian and Sabina appears to have been cold and confrontational, and we might surmise that their personalities were not well matched. Their marriage had greatly strengthened Hadrian's likelihood as successor to Trajan, but it did not bring him personal joy. Indeed, the Epitome de Caesa- ribus indicates that Sabina held such a low opinion of Hadrian that she took strict measures to avoid pregnancy by him, fearing that his children 'would harm the human race.'
Hadrian was a flagrant adulterer, both with married women and young men, yet he would not tolerate such behaviour from his wife. During the emperor's visit to Britain in 121/2, when Hadrian initiated the construction of his eponymous wall, the Historia Augusta notes that he dismissed his praetorian prefect Septicius Clarus, the historian Suetonius, and numerous court officials on the grounds that they had developed relationships with Sabina that he deemed inappropriate. The nature of these relationships is not specified, and they have been given much consideration: were they of a romantic nature, or were these people merely on friendly enough terms with Sabina that they brought a degree of happiness to her life that Hadrian wished to remove? The truth likely will remain unknown.
After a decidedly unpleasant marriage that approached four decades, Sabina died in 136, 137, or perhaps in 138 (as inscriptions from Africa Mactaris appear to indicate she was still alive in December of 137). Not long afterward, Hadrian died on July 10, 138. It was rumored that Hadrian, who at the time of Sabina's demise knew that his own death was not far off, either poisoned her or forced her to commit suicide.