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obolos 4 21 February 2016
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Martinian, Usurper, 324. Follis (Bronze, 20mm, 2.47 g 6), Nicomedia. D N M MARTINIANO P F AVG Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Martinian to right. Rev. IOVI CONSERVATORI / X / IIΓ/ SMNA Jupiter standing facing, his head turned to left, holding Victory on globe in his right hand and eagle-tipped scepter in his left; to his feet left and right, eagle holding wreath in his beak and captive. RIC VII 46. Extremely rare. A well centered example. Weakly struck as usual, otherwise, good very fine.
From the GH Collection, acquired from Rare Coins & Classical Arts on 1 June 1982.
Martinian was the colleague whom Licinius made his co-emperor in a moment of desperation following his defeat by Constantine at Adrianople on 3 July 324. Under virtually identical circumstances eight years before Licinius had done the same disservice to Valerius Valens, who was executed after Licinius sued for peace. With this in mind, we can only imagine Martinian's desperation in accepting his hasty promotion from magister officorum (head of the civil service) to emperor. We are fortunate that coins were struck in Martinian's name, for their inscriptions provide him the title of Augustus – a contradiction to most of the literary sources, which only describe him as having held the subordinate rank of Caesar. The war, however, continued on its disastrous path. Licinius was no better prepared to meet Constantine a second time, especially since Constantine was determined to make his victory complete. The armies were enormous: the combined land forces exceeded 250,000 men and the seas were crowded with some 500 ships. From the first engagement Licinius was in retreat, falling back to the Bosphorus and instructing Martinian to raise reinforcements to prevent Constantine from crossing into Asia Minor. But Crispus, the eldest son of Constantine, won a spectacular naval battle and took command of the Sea of Marmara, thus allowing a flotilla to deliver Constantinian troops onto Asian soil. Eventually Licinius took refuge in Nicomedia with a fraction of his original army. His surrender was arranged by Constantia, who was trapped in the middle as the wife of Licinius, the mother of Licinius II, and the half-sister of Constantine. Though the lives of Licinius and his son were initially spared, Martinian was executed not long after he had been sent in exile to Cappadocia
From the GH Collection, acquired from Rare Coins & Classical Arts on 1 June 1982.
Martinian was the colleague whom Licinius made his co-emperor in a moment of desperation following his defeat by Constantine at Adrianople on 3 July 324. Under virtually identical circumstances eight years before Licinius had done the same disservice to Valerius Valens, who was executed after Licinius sued for peace. With this in mind, we can only imagine Martinian's desperation in accepting his hasty promotion from magister officorum (head of the civil service) to emperor. We are fortunate that coins were struck in Martinian's name, for their inscriptions provide him the title of Augustus – a contradiction to most of the literary sources, which only describe him as having held the subordinate rank of Caesar. The war, however, continued on its disastrous path. Licinius was no better prepared to meet Constantine a second time, especially since Constantine was determined to make his victory complete. The armies were enormous: the combined land forces exceeded 250,000 men and the seas were crowded with some 500 ships. From the first engagement Licinius was in retreat, falling back to the Bosphorus and instructing Martinian to raise reinforcements to prevent Constantine from crossing into Asia Minor. But Crispus, the eldest son of Constantine, won a spectacular naval battle and took command of the Sea of Marmara, thus allowing a flotilla to deliver Constantinian troops onto Asian soil. Eventually Licinius took refuge in Nicomedia with a fraction of his original army. His surrender was arranged by Constantia, who was trapped in the middle as the wife of Licinius, the mother of Licinius II, and the half-sister of Constantine. Though the lives of Licinius and his son were initially spared, Martinian was executed not long after he had been sent in exile to Cappadocia