Description
Offered is one of the late Roman Empire coins pictured here with Camp Gate (Tower) on obverse. Although traditionally called camp gates, the type may not actually depict the gates to a Roman camp. Most probably depict watch towers, fortresses, or city gates. Camp gates are a very popular collecting theme. Popular varieties include those with visible open or closed doors, unusual turrets or towers, windows, decorated bricks, those with an unusually large or small number of brick rows, & of course those issued by rarer emperors. To the man on the 4th century Roman street, one of the most important services of government was protection from the barbarian invasions that had troubled Rome for over 200 years. This is evidenced by coin types relating to the military. One popular type is known as the campgate. Primarily dating to the era of Licinius & Constantine (there are a few nearly a century later) we are shown a block structure with varying decorations & details. On some, the doors are indicated; on most the door is merely an opening. Some are simple block structures; some have other decorations on some of the blocks. On top were a varying number of beacons (some call them 'turrets') which look like Weber barbecue kettles & served to signal, by smoke or fire, the next fortification down the line of the frontier. On some gold issues there are more details of a larger camp. On bronzes, we see a simple tower which may have been a freestanding outpost or the gate section of a larger fortification. Our page will examine three relatively common examples of this general type but it should be remembered that there are many minor variations from several different mints. Specialists place considerable importance on details like the number of rows of blocks, the type of doors & the number of Weber kettles. Our examples are among the most often seen varieties but hardly a comprehensive sample. Most collectors will enjoy any example of the general type as representative of a coin commemorating Roman efforts at security in a time when this was the prime concern of all Romans. The most common coins of the campgate series are from the years of civil war or unrest between the Emperors Constantine in the West & Licinius in the East. During part of the period there was an uneasy truce between the two resulting in each issuing coins from his mints in the name of the other. Rarities in the series are usually examples of these crossover issues. At other times, the Licinian mints ignored Constantine & visa-versa. The vast numbers needed to support the war effort make these among the most common of coins. There are also campgate issues using the reverse legend VIRTVS AVGG but most seen will be PROVIDENTIAE AVGG. One Of The Roman Coins With Camp Gate Tower Pictured Here - Not Cleaned
