What type of wedding involved a scale, a coin, and five witnesses?

The type of wedding that involved a scale, a coin, and five witnesses is called coēmptiō. This type of marriage in ancient Roman society was characterized by a formal exchange that was often accompanied by a symbolic act of buying the bride. The scale and coin symbolize this act of exchange, where the groom would have to offer a certain amount of money or goods in the presence of witnesses. The requirement of five witnesses further underscores the legal and social significance of this relationship, as it aimed to solidify the binding nature of the transaction and the union.

Coēmptiō was distinct from other forms of Roman marriages, like confarreatio, which was a highly formalized and religious marriage involving specific rites and the offering of far (a type of spelt), or usus, which was more informal and could involve a common-law marriage without the need for ceremony. Manipulatio does not pertain specifically to any recognized Roman marital traditions in the same context as coēmptiō. Understanding the components and legal implications of coēmptiō clarifies its important role in Roman marriage customs.