Owner Comments:
This ancient coin offers a fleeting yet intriguing glimpse into a tumultuous period of Roman history. It was struck during the ephemeral reign of Didius Julianus, a wealthy senator who gained the throne by promising payment of 25,000 sestertii each to the praetorian guards. Evidently, the price tag also included imperial titles for the whole family, including wife Manlia Scantilla and daughter Didia Clara (ca. 153 AD - ?).
Despite setting a new record for the shortest reign ever, Julianus managed to strike coins for everyone in the family, including this very rare denarius memorializing Didia Clara. The obverse features the Empress’ bust facing right, encircled by the inscription DIDIA CLARA AVG. The coin’s reverse depicts Hilaritas, the goddess of cheerfulness, standing left and holding a palm branch and cornucopia. The accompanying epithet, HILAR TEMPOR, denotes “happy days.”
This cheerful scene is this coin is a masterpiece of propaganda, in stark contrast to the grim reality of the time. It was doubtful that Didia Clara was having a good time of it. At least according to one ancient reference (albeit the notoriously unreliable
Historia Augusta), she and her mother “received their imperial honors with both trepidation and reluctance as if they already foresaw catastrophe."
It didn’t take much foresight to anticipate Julianus’ doom. His reign was marked by instability and widespread disapproval. After ruling for a mere 66 days, Julianus was slain in his palace by a common soldier. Subsequently, Didia Clara was stripped of her imperial title, and her fate afterwards is unknown.
Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, Didia Clara, Augusta, AD 193, AR Denarius (17.5mm, 2.99 g, 6h), Rome mint, Struck under Didius Julianus, NGC Grade: Ch VF, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 3/5, Obverse: Draped bust right, DIDIA CLARA AVG, Reverse: Hilaritas standing left, holding long palm frond and cornucopia, HILAR TEMPOR, References: RIC IV 10 (Julianus); RSC 3.