A simple CAMPGATE thread.

We all love topics about rare and uncommon coins. But my favorites are those which leave room for several members to participate in the discussion. What would be a type of which we all have at least 1 example in our collections ? The CAMPGATE ! Let's talk about it.

Over time in the Roman Empire, borders (limes) had become the lines of defense against the barbarians tribes trying to invade the territories. Towers for observation and defence were sometimes built for the protection of the different towns. The only real campgate construction preserved from that period is Porto Negre from the city of Trier in Germany. Scientists have now managed to determine exactly when the city gate was built, thanks to ancient wood that was found in archaeological digs. It was built in 170 AD.



The 4th century campgate bronze reverses and their turrets have relatively recently been reinterpreted as depicting signal towers and the 'turrets' actually being some kind of beacon. This is the most recent comprehension but there have been others; they have been interpreted as soldiers or statues of eagles or the Caesars.
The campgate specimen depict a block structure with varying decorations and details. On some, the doors are indicated; but very often the door is merely an opening. Some are simple block structures; some have other ornaments on some blocks. Rows of blocks generally vary from 3 to 15. On top of the block are 2, 3 or 4 turrets or beacons; 2 being most commonly seen. A 6 or 8 pointed star normally appears between the two ‘turrets’ on those examples. Dots may occur in the doorway and over the turrets; in most examples the dots above the turrets are connected to them by what seems to be a vertical pole or shaft.
The earliest examples of this type are from Emperor Diocletian and date to approximately 296, but we can find similar design earlier even on Provincial issues like this one from Gordian III:


Gordian III Marcianopolis City gates with 2 towers

Campgates were produced in industrial quantities during two periods: the reigns of Licinius and Constantine the Great and their sons and especially 316-319 AD and then 324-330 AD by Constantine. Here is the list of Emperors who issued coins of this type: Diocletian, Galerius, Maximinus II, Constantine I and II, Crispus, Constantius I and II, Licinius I and II, Valentinian I and II and III, Arcadius, Theodosius I, Gratian, Valens, Magnus Maximus , Flavius Victor, Honorius.

Many different monetary workshop also produced coins of this type : Cyzicus, London, Lyons, Trier, Arles, Rome, Ticinum, Siscia, Thessalonica, Hereclea, Constantinople, Nicomedia, Antioch, Alexandria, Aquileia and maybe Carthage.

Now here is the challenge: how many different examples can we find in our collections ? Please show us your campgate, and do not forget to describe the number of turrets, rows of blocks, stars....


Constantius II Nicomedia: 2 turrets, 8 rows, 8 pointed star, no door.


Crispus Rome: 2 turrets, 6 rows, 8 pointed star, no door.


Licinius I Heraclea: 3 turrets, 7 rows, no star, no door.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Interesting thread.
Licinius I Heraclea: 3 turrets, 6 rows, no star, no door.

Constantine I Cyzicus: 2 turrets, 6 rows, 7 pointed star, no door.

Constantine II Siscia: 2 turrets, 9 rows, 9 pointed star, no door.

 

I know this first is not what you are referring, but it is a camp gate, or at least that is how I have it described:

TIBERIUS
AE 25mm (As)
OBVERSE: TI CAESAR AVGVSTVS PON MAX IMP, laureate head left
REVERSE: COL AVGVSTA EMERITA, campgate
Struck at Emerita, Spain, 14-36 AD
9.27g, 25mm
RPC 42


CONSTANTINE I
AE3 Follis
OBVERSE: CONSTAN-TINVS AVG, Pearl-diademed head right
REVERSE: VIRTV-S AVGG, campgate with four turrets and 6 levels, open gates and star above, S F at sides, PCONST in ex.
Struck at Arles, 328AD
2.70g, 20mm
RIC VII 321.


CONSTANTINE I
AE3
OBVERSE: CONSTAN-TINVS AVG, laureate head right
REVERSE: PROVIDEN-TIAE AVGG, campgate, 2 turrets, 6 layers, star above, no doors, PTRE in ex.
Struck at Treveri, 327-328 AD
3.3g, 19mm
RIC VII 504

CONSTANTINE I
AE3 Follis
OBVERSE: CONSTANTINVS AVG, laureate head right
REVERSE: VIRTVS AVGG, campgate with 4 turrets, 5 layers, star above, open panelled doors, PA crescent RL in ex.
Struck at Arelate 326-328 AD
3.1g, 20mm
RIC VII 291

CONSTANTINE I
AE3 Follis
OBVERSE: CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG, diademed head right
REVERSE: PROVIDENTIAE AVGG, campgate with two turrets & no doors, 7 layers, star above, GSISdouble-crescent in ex.
Struck at Siscia 328-9 AD
3.3g, 19mm
RIC VII 215G

CONSTANTINE I
AE3
OBVERSE: CONSTANTINVS AVG, laureate bust right
REVERSE: PROVIDENTIAE AVGG, campgate with two turrets and star above, 6 layers, SMKD in ex.
Struck at Cyzicus 326-328 AD
2.40 gm., 18 mm
RIC VII 24,D

LICINIUS I
AE3 Follis
OBVERSE: IMP LICI-NIVS AVG, laureate bust right, wearing imperial mantle, holding globe, sceptre & mappa
REVERSE: PROVIDEN-TIAE AVGG, campgate with three turrets, no door, 6 layers, delta in right field SMHA in ex.
Struck at Heraclea 318-320 AD
3.0g, 18mm
RIC VII 48

LICINIUS II
AE3
OBVERSE: D N VAL LICIN LICINIVS NOB C, laurate draped bust left, holding globe, sceptre & mappa
REVERSE: PROVIDENTIAE CAESS, campgate with three turrets & no doors, 6 layers, dot over dot in right field, SMHD in ex.
Struck at Heraclea, 317-320 AD
3.3g, 19mm
RIC VII 36

CONSTANTINE II
AE Follis
OBVERSE: CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C, laureate head right
REVERSE: PROVIDENTIAE CAESS, campgate with two turrets, star 13 layers, eSIS(double crescent) in ex.,
Struck at Siscia 328-29 AD
2.9g, 20mm
RIC VII 216

CONSTANTINE II
AE3 Follis
OBVERSE: CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C - Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust left
REVERSE: PROVIDENTIAE CAESS - Campgate with two towers, 10 layers and star above. SMANTB in ex.
Struck at Antioch, 325-335 AD
2.81g, 18mm
RIC VII 65

I mave quite a few more camp gates, but will take a break for now.

 

Nice collection @Bing . Your Tiberius will probably be the earliest "campgate" and your Constantine with 13 rows will be hard to beat !

 

I have a couple of London camp gates. There are so many Genio Pop Rom reverses from London these were very interesting! They seem to lack ambition in the tower height though...


Constantine II AE3, 324-325, London. CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C. PROVIDENTIAE CAESS, PLON. Six layers, two turrets, star above (RIC VII 296).


Constantius II AE3, 324-325, London. FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C. PROVIDENTIAE CAESS, PLON. Six layers, two turrets, star above (RIC VII 298).

These are as late as you can go at London, as the mint closed in 325.

 

Here are more:

CONSTANTINE II
AE3 Follis
OBVERSE: CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C, laureate (resembles pearl diadem), draped, cuirassed bust left
REVERSE: PROVIDEN-TIAE CAESS, campgate, 2 turrets, 8 layers, star above, no door. Mintmark: SMKB, dot in left field
Struck at Cyzicus, 329-330 AD
3.7g, 19mm
RIC VII 52

CONSTANTIUS II
AE3
OBVERSE: FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C, laureate, draped & cuirassed bust left
REVERSE: PROVIDEN-TIAE CAESS, campgate with two turrets & star above, 6 layers, SMKB dot in ex.
Struck at Cyzicus 325-326 AD
3.5g, 18mm
RIC VII 38,B

CONSTANTIUS II
AE3
OBVERSE: FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C, laureate, draped & cuirassed bust left
REVERSE: PROVIDEN-TIAE CAESS, campgate with two turrets & star above, 6 layers, SMKΓ dot in ex.
Struck at Cyzicus 325-326 AD
3.5g, 18mm
RIC VII 38,G

CONSTANTIUS II
AE3
OBVERSE: FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB C, laureate, draped & cuirassed bust left
REVERSE: PROVIDENTIAE CAESS, campgate with 2 turrets, 7 layers, star above, & no doors, R(wreath)Q in ex.
Struck at Rome 355-361 AD
3.31 g, 20 mm
RIC VII 290

 

CAMPGATE


RI Flavius Victor 384-388 CE AE4 14mm 1-8g Aquileia Camp Gate Star SMAQS RIC IX 55b-2 LRBC1104

 

CAMPGATE


RI Constantine I CE 306-337 Æ Follis 19mm 3.2g Siscia CE 326-7 AVG Laureate R - PROVIDENTIAE AVGG Camp gate 2 turrets no door star RIC 200



RI Crispus 317-326 CE AE Folles Caesar in Trier Campgate - Heraclea mint

 

Here's my latest turreted entryway. Magnus Maximus AE4, campgate, four layers, two very tall turrets, star above, no doors. Does anyone know the mint?


I have this as Theodosius II AE4 Campgate Three layers, two turrets, no doors. ?

 

My first thread I can comfirm I have a camp gate coin, which one, havent got there yet, Has 2 turents and 1 star, looks like 8 rows high of blocks. No door.

 

This one was a Secret Saturnalia gift from 2018!


Crispus, AD 316-326.
Roman billon centenionalis, 3.07 g, 19.3 mm, 11 h.
Alexandria, AD 325-26.
Obv: FL IVL CRISPVS NOB CAES, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust, left.
Rev: PROVIDEN-TIAE CAESS, two-turreted gateway of military camp, star above; SMALA in exergue.
Refs: RIC vii, p. 709, 35; LRBC I 1403; Cohen 125; RCV 16813.

 

Constantine II of London. RIC VII 296. This is the coin used for the Wildwinds image.

 

The mintmark is TCON and the mint is Arles

 

2 Turrets, 6 Rows, 8-Pointed Star, No Doors:


AE Follis 2.80g. 19mm. 328-329 A.D. Nicomedia Mint. Pearl-diademed head right, CONSTAN-TINVS AVG / Campgate

 

Very nice coins to represent the Campgate type. I have a few I will dig out. My wife is in the hospital and makes it difficult to concentrate.

 

It's a sad news. Hoping everything's gonna be OK. Take care of her and yourself !

 

I hope all turns out well and will pray for your wife.

 

Hope all is well. Will be thinking of her. Best to you.

 

Oh my! I hope she makes a speedy and complete recovery.

 

Thanks everyone. I may be bringing her home tomorrow. But, there will be some recovery. All the friends praying and standing behind us helps.