DIDIA CLARA (Augusta, 193). Denarius. Rome.

Obv: DIDIA CLARA AVG.
Draped bust right.
Rev: HILAR TEMPOR.
Hilaritas standing left, holding palm frond and cornucopia.

RIC 10 (Julianus).

Rare

Manlia Scantilla became the wife of Marcus Didius Julianus in 153, and from this marriage a daughter, Didia Clara, was born, with whom she was elected to the rank of augusta by the Roman Senate on the occasion of her husband's elevation to emperor. According to the historian Herodianus, the two women themselves suggested Didius to buy his imperial office at auction. When Commodus was assassinated, he was succeeded by the praetorian prefect Pertinax, from whom the Praetorian Guard expected favors and money but were disappointed; this led them to eliminate Pertinax and seek out a generous candidate by auctioning off their support. The two contenders were Sulpicianus and Didius Julianus, who was reportedly persuaded by his wife to pay 30,000 sestertii to “buy” the title of emperor. Because of the promises he had made to the Praetorian Guard, the new emperor was forced to intervene in monetary matters, reducing the silver content of the coins so that he could mint them in greater quantities. The mint in Rome then began to mint coins bearing the portraits of his wife and daughter, Didia Clara. However, Julian held power for only a short time, as he was unable to win the loyalty of the army, which soon betrayed him in order to support Septimius Severus. When her husband was beheaded on 1 June 193, Manlia Scantilla was able to dispose of the body but not the heredity, losing the title of augusta. There are no records after that, and depictions of her and her daughter on coins or statues remain very rare.

Condition: Near extremely fine; some luster in field.

Weight: 3.17 g.
Diameter: 18 mm.

Estimate: € 2500