Artemide Aste s.r.l.
Auction 53E 5 Dec 2020
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Delmatius (Caesar, 335-337). AE 17 mm. Siscia mint. FL DELMATIVS NOB C. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. / GLORIA EXERCITVS. Two soldiers standing; between them, standard; in exergue, B SIS. RIC VII 256. AE. 1.57 g. 17.00 mm. Rare. Deep emerald green patina. Cleaning marks, otherwise VF/Good VF.
Delmatius was the son of Constantine's half-brother, Flavius Delmatius, the son of Constantius I Chlorus by his second wife, Theodora. The descendants of Theodora were regarded with hostility by Constantine's influential mother, Helena, and thus lived in semi-exile until her death in ca. AD 330. After this, Constantine showed more favor to this branch of his family and in AD 335, when he was about 20 years of age, the younger Delmatius was named Caesar and formally made part of Constantine's elaborate five-way division of the empire, joining the emperor's three surviving sons, Constantine II, Constantius II and Constans, as well his brother younger Hannibalianus, who was presumptively named 'King of Kings of the Pontic Peoples.' The five-way succession scheme abruptly collapsed in May of 337, when Constantine suddenly took ill and died. Constantine's three sons seized control of the army and ordered the executions of their cousins Delmatius and Hannibalianus, along with their father and many others from Theodora's lineage.
Delmatius was the son of Constantine's half-brother, Flavius Delmatius, the son of Constantius I Chlorus by his second wife, Theodora. The descendants of Theodora were regarded with hostility by Constantine's influential mother, Helena, and thus lived in semi-exile until her death in ca. AD 330. After this, Constantine showed more favor to this branch of his family and in AD 335, when he was about 20 years of age, the younger Delmatius was named Caesar and formally made part of Constantine's elaborate five-way division of the empire, joining the emperor's three surviving sons, Constantine II, Constantius II and Constans, as well his brother younger Hannibalianus, who was presumptively named 'King of Kings of the Pontic Peoples.' The five-way succession scheme abruptly collapsed in May of 337, when Constantine suddenly took ill and died. Constantine's three sons seized control of the army and ordered the executions of their cousins Delmatius and Hannibalianus, along with their father and many others from Theodora's lineage.