Manlia Scantilla
193 AD
Wife of Didius Julianus
Little is known of Manlia Scantilla other than she was the wife of Didius Julianus. Her husband’s ambitions placed her in the middle of Rome’s most scandalous succession in history – the purchase of the office of the Emperor at public auction. This open display of corruption led to her family’s unpopularity among the people, the Senate, and provinces throughout the Roman Empire.
As the legions of Septimus Severus rose in support of their leader as Emperor, the march toward Rome prompted the Senate to declare her husband a criminal and ordered his execution. Manlia and her daughter, Didia Clara, were not harmed. The beheaded body of Didius was handed over to them for burial.
Monetary System
Perhaps because Didius Julianus bid 25,000 sestertii per man for the office of emperor, coinage of himself and his family have survived in gold, silver, and bronze despite his short reign of only 66 days. The fact that Commodus drained the treasury during his reign must have necessitated the mintage of new currency to pay the Praetorian Guard. No doubt, the portraits of his wife and daughter were also used to promote support for the new royal family as a whole.
Mints: Rome
Obverse legends:
MANL SCANTILLA AVG.
MANLIA SCANTILLA AVG.
DENOMINATIONS
AU Aureus (6.74 grams)
AR Denarius (2.68 grams)
AE Sestertius (17.1 grams)
AE Dupondius or As (12.87 grams)
