Flavius Dalmatius (died 337), also known as Dalmatius Caesar (his name is often spelled Delmatius on contemporary coins), was a Caesar (335–337) of the Roman Empire, and member of the Constantinian dynasty. Dalmatius was the nephew of Constantine I. His father, also named Flavius Dalmatius, was the half-brother of Constantine and served as censor. Dalmatius and his brother Hannibalianus were educated at Tolosa (Toulouse) by rhetor Exuperius. Division of the Roman Empire among the Caesars appointed by Constantine I: from west to east, the territories of Constantine II, Constans I, Dalmatius and Constantius II. After the death of Constantine I (May 337), this was the formal division of the Empire, until Dalmatius was killed and his territory divided between Constans and Constantius. On 18 September 335, he was raised to the rank of Caesar, with the control of Thracia, Achaea and Macedonia. Dalmatius died in late summer 337, killed by his own soldiers. It is possible that his death was related to the purge that hit the imperial family at the death of Constantine, and organized by Constantius II with the aim of removing any possible claimant to imperial power other than the sons of the late emperor. This coin is from @John Anthony 's auction of last week and received in the mail today. From what I can discern, the issues of Delmatius are fairly scarce. A search on vcoins shows vastly different prices based on condition, with the nice ones demanding a pretty penny. As the coin has a dark patina, my usual photo set-up wasn't bright enough and I ended up taking the shots outside in the sunshine. Type: AE 17 mm 1.8 grams Obverse: FL DELMATIVS NOB CAES Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right Reverse: GLOR-IA EXCERC-ITVS Two soldiers standing facing one another, each holding spear signum between Mintmark: SMN zeta, Nicomedia Reference: RIC VII 204 Feel free to post your coins of Delmatius here!
Thanks for posting the auction photo @Pishpash - it's a little brighter than mine. The coin is interesting in that it is a dark black patina on the obverse and a bit of desert patina on the reverse - not sure chemically how it works out but pretty cool. Thanks for posting your coin as well. I didn't have any Delmatius coins in my collection. Now I just need Hannibalianus to round out my collection of Constantine's family.
Don't worry, Constantine was fully exonerated on his death bed when he received baptism. Even though he boiled his wife Fausta to death and exhibited various murderous tendencies.
Thanks for the write up and spelling lesson! Mine were with an E also... DALMATIUS: RI Dalmatius 335-337 CE Quarter Folles CHI RHO banner flanked by 2 soldiers Sear 3131 RI Dalmatius 335-337 CE Quarter Folles CHI RHO banner flanked by 2 soldiers
This one from Thessalonika uses the DALMATIUS spelling. I have always been fond of the portrait style.
From Wildwinds "Delmatius, Caesar, 335-337 AD. Nephew of Constantine I. Note: His name engraved on coins as DALMATIVS is not an engraver's error"
DELMATIUS AE Follis OBVERSE: FL DELMATIVS NOB C, laureate, draped & cuirassed bust right REVERSE: GLORIA EXERCITVS dot, two soldiers standing, holding spears & shields, one standard between them, O on banner. Mintmark CONSI Struck at Constantinople 336-7 AD 1.3g, 16 mm RIC 153
The glossy patina on this one makes taking a picture very difficult Delmatius, AE 3 Siscia mint, 2nd officina, c. AD335-337 FL DELMATIVS NOB C, laureate and draped bust right GLOR IAEXERC ITVS, Standard between two soldiers, BSIS at exergue 1.41 gr, 18mm Ref : RIC VI, Siscia # 266, LRBC # 758, Cohen # 4 Q
