Featured A Thread Honoring “Campgates.” Post Yours!

RIC VII, London, Crispus, No. 295

• Reduced weight follis - 324 to 325
• O: Crispus laureate and cuirassed bust right - FL IVL CRISPVS NOB CAES
• R: Campgate surmounted by star and globes - PROVIDENTIAE CAESS - PLON (exergue)

RIC VII, London, Constantine II, No. 296

• Reduced weight follis - 324 to 325
• O: Constantine II laureate and cuirassed bust right - CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C
• R: Campgate surmounted by star and globes - PROVIDENTIAE CAESS - PLON (exergue)

RIC VII, London, Constantius II, No. 297

• Reduced weight follis - 324 to 325
• O: Constantius II laureate and cuirassed bust right - FLA CONSTANTIVS NOB C
• R: Campgate surmounted by star and globes - PROVIDENTIAE CAESS - PLON (exergue)

 

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Constantius II Trier Mint From JA auction.

 

Those provincial gates are really great. I was hoping someone would post some of those types of reverses for comparison. Nice additions @lrbguy !

The large Galerius is fantastic as well.

Haha. Way cool “earthquake” Follis!

 

Here is the Campgate for Constantius II, as Caesar.
Minted at Cyzicus between 326-327 A.D.
Obv.: FL.IVL.CONSTANTIVS.NOB.C. Laureate, draped & cuirassed bust left.
Rev.: PROVIDEN-TIAE.CAESS.: Campgate with 6 rows, two turrets, no doors, star above, top & bottom rows empty blocks. RICVII #48

 

Valentinian II AE4
minted at Thessalonica between 383-388 A.D.
Obv.: D.N.VALENTINIANVS.IVN.P.F.AVG.: Pearl diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right.
Rev.: GLORIAE.REIPVBLICE.: Campgate with A in left field.
RICIX #62a.

 

I've shown this before but it's one of the top 10 favorite coins in my collection.

Constantine Closed Door Campgate, Rome mint:

 

I only have a couple of campgates, but I can't wait for more. I'm liking this mint set idea, so perhaps a mint set of campgates.

I like the neck bumps on this Constantius II


And here's baby Constantine II.

 

Just some varieties with few layers of stone, many layers, decoration on top and below; one with a plinth. There are many varieties.

Frans

 

And this is my Constantius II, Flavius Victor and 2 Valentinian III

 

I really like the arch decoration at the top of the examples you show. It reminds me of the arches over the Porta Aurea of Diocletian’s palace at Split.

 

Just you shut the front... Gate! As always, excellent coin and another insane thread @Curtisimo!
Man am I late to the party was on a nice little vacation and couldn't get any pics to post.
Like the French say, bettar late than stuck outside zee gate (they do NOTsay that):


Constantius II
As Caesar, AD 324-337. Æ Follis, Treveri (Trier) mint. Struck AD 326. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust left / Camp-gate with two turrets and no door; star above; PTR(pellet-within-crescent). RIC VII 480; LRBC 29.




CONSTANTIUS II
as Caesar. 324-337 AD. Æ Follis (20mm - 3.16 g). Cyzicus mint. Struck 326-327 AD. FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust left / PROVIDEN-TIAE CAESS, camp-gate with no doors and two turrets, star above; •SMKΔ•. RIC VII 48; LRBC 1183. VF, dark brown patina

 

After reading through some ideas in this thread concerning the globe on tripod seen on the campgate coins this is one idea I had to explain it:


Supposedly Archimedes attacked Roman vessels using a parabolic mirror detailed by the image above by settng fire to the boat..

Was this concept taken by the Romans and used as a defensive weapon on the campgate structures ?

From what I read the main issue with this weapon was the requirement for the focal point to be at a set distance to be effective in setting fire to enemy vessels.

Did the Roman's see potential in using this type of weapon which was not effective against mobile targets like ships.

BUT, when added to a static defensive position with a set focal could this be used as a weapon. I.e the long winding road to the campgate had preset focal points meaning when advancing forces reach a designated point on the approach they could unleash the parabolic mirrors.


http://www.unmuseum.org/burning_mirror.htm

Could it be following a succesful attack on a fleet (if infact true) the romans adopted this unusual weapon as a static defense weapon.

And we have mistaken the globe for a parabolic mirror?

From what I read many argue over the fact of the use of these mirrors to burn a Roman vessel. Could it be this did actually happen and the tech was stolen and used as a defensive weapon.

 

Was the limitation of Archimedes mirror caused through being in fixed position on a single static post as detailed? And the Roman improvement was a tripod allowing the mirror to be moved in multiple directions to provide fire on all fronts or multiple preset focal points in the approach to the position.

 

Also possible Archimedes idea was taken and used for communications. To me that would be most logical.

 

Bad news travels fast!

If a new super weapon dubbed the death ray did exist I'm sure the barbaric tribes would think twice about rushing the fortifications.

More importantly we would expect some written evidence explaining the use of said cylindical objects?

 

List of ideas of possible explanations;
- Communication devices, reflecting sunlight and or fire signaling.
- Thermal weapons for sand or oil/water.
- Parabolic mirrors.
- water heater/storage gravity fed.
- form of bell to struck to raise the alarm or communication.
- Simple light fire pits to light up gate entrance.
- Possible form of sun dial for time.

 

Quite interesting! Even if it didn't set flammable things ablaze, it could've been used to (temporarily) blind and widely disrupt attacks with the reflected bright light. Though, "smart" or observant attackers would be able to time their attack when the sun's rays are "uncatchable" in the mirrors on that side of the fort... Or wait for a cloudy day or simply until nightfall. Very intriguing though!

 

Steam for cannons?

 

Gee , you write big !