IOVI CONSERVATORI

Laureate head with bare bust of Valerius Valens to the right.

Jupiter standing on the left, holding a long scepter with the left hand as well as a victory with the right hand. The scepter is surmounted by an eagle turned to the left and holding a crown in its beak. The victory crowns Jupiter, holds a palm and is placed on a globe. On the ground to the left, an eagle holding a crown in its beak. On the right, a captive seated with his hands tied.

Photo of a coin sold the 11/05/2005 by Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 29, lot 632, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=222405, link to their website: https://www.arsclassicacoins.com/.

The eagle surmounting the scepter is often very inconspicuous but always present on all the coins of the three mints known for Martinianus: Alexandria (new mint that I discovered), Cyzicus and Nicomedia.

The RIC volume 7 (RIC 7) only referenced one officina mark: VI. Since then, two more have been listed: I (AYC #2) and II (the one referenced here).

The coins of the mint of Cyzicus use the reverse legend: IOVI CONSERVATORI, those of Alexandria have the legend: IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG. If a coin is very worn and neither the mint marks nor the end of the legend are visible, we can identify the type of reverse and its mint by looking at the legend break. For Cyzicus: IOVI CONS - ERVATORI, for Alexandria: IOVI CONSER - VATORI AVGG.