Martinian

Martinian, 324 Follis Cyzicus circa 324, Æ 20.5mm., 2.99g. IMP CS MAR MARTINIANVS P F AVG Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev. IOVI CONS – ERVATORI Jupiter standing left, holding Victory on globe in r. hand and eagle-tipped sceptre in l.; at feet, eagle holding wreath in beak. In upper field r., X / IIΓ and below, captive on ground. In exergue, SMKA. RIC 16. C. -.

Extremely rare. Fine.

Ex Forum Ancient Coins.

Martinian was the unfortunate soul who Licinius made his co-emperor in a moment of desperation following his defeat by Constantine at Adrianople on July 3, 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 grant 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 quickly evolved on a disastrous path. Licinius was no better prepared the second time to meet Constantine, who this time 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 on the retreat, falling back to the Bosphorus and instructing Martinian to raise reinforcements and to prevent Constantine from crossing into Asia Minor. However, 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 exiled to Cappadocia.