Almost immediately after the assassination of Pertinax, the throne was sold by the praetorian guard to the highest bidder. Didius Julianus, with the offer of a higher donative and the promise to restore the condemned memory of Commodus and not avenge Pertinax, won out over Flavius Sulpicianus, Prefect of the City and Pertinax's father-in-law. Julianus's wife and daughter, Manlia Scantilla and Didia Clara, were both soon honored as Augustae. Kent, Hirmer and Hirmer note (p. 303), "Scantilla was reputedly as plain as her daughter Clara was beautiful; the coins would never have enabled us to guess this, for they flatter neither." A reverse type of Juno fits Scantilla, while Hilaritas befits Clara, named the heiress to her father's estate and newly married to Cornelius Repentinus, the new Prefect of the City. Hilaritas, though, connotes a special religious joy and not mere hilarity. It is the concomitant of imperial triumph and prosperity. Imperial triumph and prosperity it was, too--for 66 days. Despite attempts to assassinate his two chief antagonists, Julianus had no means of resistance. On June 1, 193, with Septimius Severus encamped at Interamna, the Senate abandoned Julianus and sent soldiers to kill him. Manlia Scantilla and Didia Clara both lost their title on the death of Julianus and Didia's inheritance was confiscated by Severus, but they were not otherwise harmed. Their subsequent fates have been lost to history. I know I posted these recently, but I've rephotographed them in natural sunlight on my back porch. Nothing fancy, just my cell phone camera. Feel free to post whatever you feel is relevant! Manlia Scantilla, wife of Didius Julianus, Augusta, AD 193 Roman Æ Sestertius; 29mm, 22.62 g, 12:00 Rome mint, AD 193 Obv: MANLIA SCANTILLA AVG, draped bust right Rev: IVNO REGINA SC, Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter; to left, peacock at feet, standing left, head turned up Refs: RIC 18a; BMCRE 36; Cohen 6; RCV 6083; Woodward, Didius, dies 6/- (unlisted rev. die); Banti 2. Notes: The upper portion of the reverse perfectly matches the reverse of BMCRE 36 (pl. 4, 5), which was struck with Woodward rev. die E. It is possible that the same die was used for both coins, but was re-engraved before this coin was struck. Didia Clara, daughter of Didius Julianus and Manlia Scantilla, Augusta, AD 193 Roman Æ Sestertius; 30.5 mm, 21.16 gm Rome, AD 193 Obv: DIDIA CLARA AVG, bare-headed and draped bust right Rev: HILARITAS SC, Hilaritas standing, head left, holding palm branch and cornucopiae Refs: RIC 20; BMCRE 38; RCV 6087.
The Manlia Scantilla is awesome, but are you sure that Didia Clara isn't a modified Julia Domna? e.g. here. The legend looks a bit suspicious to me (sorry to cause doubt! )
I bought it from an extremely reputable dealer who has been in business for 25+ years. Moreover, I believe it's a die match to this one at CNG.
I fiddled around with transparencies, and I think you're right about the die match. Except for the obverse legend... so that may have been "helped out" a bit. But its bona fides as a Didia Clara are pretty clear! Again, apologies to have caused any anxiety!
@Roman Collector !!! NICE JOB on those TOUGH to get captures!!! I do not have either in my Roman Rulers albums. Congrats!!!
My Didia Clara: Didia Clara. Augusta, AD 193. Æ Sestertius (31.5mm, 22.05 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Didius Julianus. Draped bust right / Hilaritas standing left, holding long palm frond set on ground and cornucopia. RIC IV 20 (Didius) I've yet to acquire Manlia Scantilla, but it won't be too long...
