Martinian. Usurper, AD 324. Æ Follis (21mm, 3.24 g, 12h). Nicomedia mint, 4th officina.

Electronic Auction 514
Lot: 607. Estimated: $ 2 000

Roman Imperial, Bronze

Sold For $ 2 250. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Martinian. Usurper, AD 324. Æ Follis (21mm, 3.24 g, 12h). Nicomedia mint, 4th officina. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Jupiter standing left, holding Victory on globe in right hand, eagle-tipped scepter in left; to left, eagle standing left, head right, holding wreath in its beak; to right, bound captive kneeling right; –|X/IIΓ//SMNΔ. RIC VII 45. Reddish-brown patina, light roughness. Near VF. Rare.

In 324 civil war broke out between Constantine and Licinius. When they came to blows near Hadrianopolis, Licinius, whose army was numerically superior in both foot and cavalry, was defeated by Constantine and fell back on Byzantium. His position there was not secure, however, and he was soon cut off from his fleet. He retreated to Chalcedon, where he promoted his controller of ministries, Martinian, as his co-Augustus, and left him to prevent Constantine from crossing the strait. Martinian was unable to accomplish the task and was captured by Constantine's forces shortly thereafter. He was executed by orders of Constantine in 325 after having short respite under guard in Cappadocia.

Closing Date and Time: 20 April 2022 at 13:22:00 ET.