A few weeks ago, I bought a sestertius of Sabina that I really enjoyed the portrait of. The only problem was that I didn't have a matching Hadrian. I finally was able to rectify that last week. The same seller, who is a member here I believe, had this Hadrian up for sale and I thought he was a good match for his wife. Both have some nice honest wear but the portrait is still very nice. Hadrian Sestertius Obverse: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS, laureate head right Reverse: COS III S-C, Neptune standing left, foot on prow, holding aplustre and trident Sabina Sestertius Obverse: SABINA AVGVSTA HADRIANI AVG P P, draped bust right with hair coiled on top of head Reverse: SC in ex, Vesta seated left, holding Palladium & scepter Let's see some of your "coupled" coins. Thanks for looking!
Here's a couple (RIC 211, RIC 49) that didn't work out too well. She survived, he didn't last long after discarding her. Two marriages later, Grandma gave up on him and decided she had another option to retain power.
Great coins! I didn't know you had a coin blog. I have bookmarked it and plan to read through it when I get a chance. Thanks for sharing!
Great new additions. There is something satisfying about completing a 2-piece set of emperor and empress. Antoninus Pius and Faustina I Marcus Aurelius and his wife Faustina II (though the likeness seems to be modeled on her mother Faustina I on this example.)
My favorite 'couple' is Septimius Severus and Julia Domna. My best 'couple' coins are these two denarii from the 'Emesa' mint which share a reverse die. Even when they used the same types, it was more usual for separate dies be used but the mint traditionally called 'Emesa' did not know or care to follow 'rules' from Rome in every case. This pair was covered under 'Guests' on one of my favorite web pages from the old site. https://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/bride.html
Some emperors coupled more than others... Elagabalus Wife #1, Julia Paula Wife #2 (and 4), Aquilia Severa Wife #3, Annia Faustina
Very nice FF, I especially like the hairstyle on your Sabina, some nice big bronzes. These two obviously aren’t quite a “couple”, but they reigned back-to-back, and since I bought these 2 at the same show (and they sit right next to each other in my tray), I always think of them together: Herennia Etruscilla Otacilia Severa But to keep it on theme, here are their husbands Philip I and Trajan Decius:
Here is a couple that hasn't been posted yet. When looking for other coins that fit the topic, I noticed that there is a distinct lack of coins depicting women in the FF collection. Of course, my 5 year old daughter has been letting me know that for awhile Aurelian and Severina Aurelian AE Antoninianus Serdica mint Obverse: IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, radiate, cuirassed bust right Reverse: ORIENS AVG Sol standing left between two captives, holding globe, right hand raised Mintmark XXIS Severina AE Antoninianus Serdica mint Obverse: SEVERINA AVG, diademed, draped bust right on crescent Reverse: CONCORDIA AVGG, Aurelian and Severina clasping hands, star in lower centre Mintmark KA dot Γ dot
Here's one more couple : Juno & Jupiter on matching coins from 87 BC - L. Rubrius Dossenus, Rome. The reverse has a triumphal quadriga (4 horses) with the side panels decorated with thunderbolt for Jupiter, and an eagle on thunderbolt for Juno. 88-87 BC, the Social War still had some loose ends, as civil war broke out in Rome between Sulla & Marius -"Sulla's first Civil War". Marius and Sulla conflicted over who would have the honor of leading the war against Mithridates. Sulla prevailed, but only after turning his legions against Rome.
