Obolos 14

Martinian, 324. Follis (Bronze, 20.5 mm, 3.10 g, 12 h), Nicomedia, 2nd officina (B). D N M MARTINIANO P F AVG Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Martinian to right. Rev. IOVI CONSERVATORI / X / IIΓ/ SMNB Jupiter standing facing, his head turned to left, holding Victory on globe in his right hand and eagle-tipped scepter in his left; at his feet to left, eagle standing left, with his head turned back to right and a wreath in his beak; to right, bound captive looking back to left. RIC 46. Extremely rare. Rough surfaces, otherwise, good fine.

Licinius I made Martinian his co-emperor following his defeat by Constantine at Adrianople on 3 July 324. Eight years before Licinius had done the same with his general Valerius Valens, who was then subsequently executed as a condition of the peace treaty, after Licinius's defeat at Mardia. Martinian must have thought about that when he accepted his promotion from his position as Licinius’ magister officorum (head of the civil service) to that of co-emperor. Surviving coins reveal that he had the title of Augustus – most of the literary sources only describe him as having held the 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 Licinius was forced to retreat and fall back to the Bosporus. He had ordered Martinian to raise reinforcements to prevent Constantine from crossing into Asia, but Constantine’s eldest son Crispus destroyed Licinius’ fleet in the Hellespont, thus enabling Constantine’s army to cross over to Asia. After Constantine’s great victory at Chrysopolis in September 324, Martinian’s life was spared thanks to the intervention of Constantia, Constantine’s sister and wife of Licinius. He was exiled to Cappadocia, but was executed the following Spring.