Hi everyone, Seems I have the Ancient bug going strong here. I am liking these Ancients more and more as time goes by. I have learned a lot from you all! Thanks go out to all of you. Just picked this one up recently. Delmatius had a short lived career as an Emperor it appears. Do you think the sons of Constantine actually committed the murderous purges I have been reading about? Delmatius, AE follis. Siscia. AD 335-337. FL DELMATIVS NOB C, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right. GLOR-IA EXERC-ITVS, two soldiers holding spears and shields with one standard between them with O on banner. Mintmark: ASIS star. RIC VII Siscia 266; Sear 16895 Rated R4. Name commonly known as: Delmatius aka Flavius Dalmatius and Dalmatius Caesar *** Latin Roman Name: Flavius Delmatius *** Reigned as Roman Emperor / Caesar: 335-337 AD. *** Dynasty / Historical Period: The Constantinian dynasty (285 - 364) also called the Neo-Flavian period *** Name of previous Emperor: His predecessor or the Emperor before Delmatius was Constantine the Great. Delmatius was the son of Flavius Dalmatius, the brother of Constantine the Great and therefore the nephew of this famous emperor. Constantine the Great requested the family of his brother Flavius Dalmatius to join him in his new capital at Constantinople. On 19 September 335, Delmatius was raised to the rank of Caesar by his uncle the Emperor Constantine I. The realm of Delmatius included Thrace, Greece and Macedonia. Delmatius and his brother Hannibalianus were clearly held in high favor by the emperor. However, Constantine the Great died in May 337. On 9 September 337 Constantine II, Constantius II, and Constans succeed their father Constantine the Great and rule as co-emperors of the Roman Empire. Later that month a number of descendants of Constantius Chlorus, the brother of Constantine the Great, as well as many nobles and officials of the Roman Empire, were executed. Delmatius and his brother Hannibalianus were included in the murders. Responsibility for this purge, or blood bath, was denied by the three brothers, although the events which occurred during their rules point to ruthless and blood thirsty actions.copyright @ siteseen. Feel free to post your Delmatius or anything related. Would enjoy seeing them.
here are links to two good articles on this topic- “THE SUMMER OF BLOOD. The "Great Massacre" of 337 and the Promotion of the Sons of Constantine.” Burgess thinks that Constantius II was mainly responsible. http://www.constantinethegreatcoins..._the_Promotion_of_the_Sons_of_Constantine.pdf "Numismatic Evidence and the Succession to Constantine I" Woods thinks that the army was mainly responsible. http://www.constantinethegreatcoins...vidence_And_The_Succession_To_Constantine.pdf
Delmatius, as Caesar, AD 335-337 Roman Æ billon reduced centenionalis; 1.63g; 17.2 mm, 12 h Obv: FL DELMATIVS NOB C, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev: GLOR-IA EXERC-ITVS, two soldiers standing facing each other, each resting on on spear and shield, one standard between them; BSIS in exergue Refs: RIC vii, p. 458, 256; LRBC 758; Cohen 4; RCV 16894.
Congratulations on picking up a rare coin of Delmatius, and in such good condition as well. Great write up.
Nice write up and nice pick up @old49er ... I have a couple of the same Quarter-Folles: RI Delmatius 335-337 CE Quarter Folles CHI RHO banner flanked by 2 soldiers Sear 3131 (However, the banner looks a bit different...almost like an OMEGA instead of Chi Rho (XP) RI Delmatius 335-337 CE Quarter Folles CHI RHO banner flanked by 2 soldiers Sear 3131
here is his brother Hannibalianus, appointed King of the Pontic people, who was also killed in the purge. Hannibalianus A.D. 335-337 15mm 1.5gm FL HANNIBALLIANO REGI; Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right SECVRITAS PVBLICE; Euphrates reclining right, leaning on scepter; urn at side, reed in background. In ex. CONSS RIC VII Constantinople 147
I would put no behavior beyond the ability of a Roman emperor, even one professing to be on his way to becoming a Christian convert.
Great coins everyone, Thanks for posting them. Thanks for the interesting links Victor. I read both of them. I'm in the camp, that there was a lot of cover up and collusion going on pertaining to the death of Delmatius and the others. So i am not convinced that the Army was solely responsible for the purge. I guess we shall never know the real truth. But greed and power corrupts as the old story goes...
