Rare Manlia Scantilla Sestertius

166, Lot: 173. Estimate $300. Sold for $1049. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Manlia Scantilla. Augusta, AD 193. Æ Sestertius (30mm, 24.98 g). Rome mint. Draped bust right / Juno standing facing, head left, holding patera and sceptre; peacock at feet. RIC IV 18a (Didius Julianus); BMCRE (Didius Julianus); Cohen 6. Fine, patina stripped, just starting to tone a light brown, full flan.

Manlia Scantilla was the wife of the wealthy senator Didius Julianus who ‘purchased’ the imperial throne following the assassination of Pertinax (March 28, 193 AD) in a disgraceful auction held by the mutinous Praetorian Guard. The Senate had no choice but to ratify the coup d'etat and at the same time the new emperor's wife and daughter, Didia Clara, were given the rank of Augusta, a most unusual step at the very outset of a reign. The beautiful Clara, a noted ‘belle’ of Roman Society during the reign of Commodus, was then given in marriage to Cornelius Repentinus, presumably Julianus' candidate for the eventual succession. Scantilla, in contrast, was reputed to be exceedingly ugly. A little more than two months later Julianus was overthrown and beheaded by a more powerful rival, the general Septimius Severus. When the new emperor took possession of the capital he granted an interview to Scantilla and Clara and agreed to their request that the remains of the late emperor should be deposited in his family tomb. However, both were stripped of their imperial rank and Clara lost her inheritance. They retired into private life and nothing further is known of them. The very rare coinage of Manlia Scantilla was issued in the full range of metals, though all bear the same reverse type appropriately honoring “Queen Juno” (Iuno Regina).