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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Gavin Richardson, post: 3090878, member: 83956&quot;][ATTACH=full]779922[/ATTACH]</p><p>I’d like to take this thread in a slightly different direction. I recently purchased this coin from [USER=9577]@Brian Bucklan's&nbsp; <a href="http://bargainbinancients.com/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://bargainbinancients.com/" rel="nofollow">http://bargainbinancients.com/</a> site. It’s an “EYES TO GOD” campgate. I had purchased an ETG Dafne from Beast Coins years ago, and added an ETG Votive from [USER=44316]@Valentinian[/USER] a few weeks ago. I had honestly never heard of an ETG Campgate until I saw the coin at Bargain Bin Ancients. And yes, I got it quite inexpensively. Check out Brian’s site if you haven’t already. Some gems to be had.</p><p><br /></p><p>The coin is a bit rough and very difficult to photograph, but with the legends oriented appropriately, the upward tilt of the face is subtle but noticeable.</p><p><br /></p><p>I’m not quite sure why I’m posting. I guess I would like to know two things:</p><p><br /></p><p>1. Anecdotally speaking, the ETG campgate seems much rarer than other ETG issues. Is that true in your experience? What ETG campgates do you have? Can you post them?</p><p><br /></p><p>2. Can anyone help with the mintmark of my coin? It looks like TMES, which makes no sense. So I want it to be SMKS, because it would then resemble one that [USER=5454]@Victor[/USER] Clark has posted here:</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/asst2/prov57.jpeg" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/asst2/prov57.jpeg" rel="nofollow">http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/asst2/prov57.jpeg</a></p><p><br /></p><p>My Coin: 18.50 mm. 3.80 g. 0°</p><p><br /></p><p>CONSTAN TINVS AVG head with diadem, looking up to Heavens. [This diadem is different from Victor’s coin. My coin’s diadem seems to have diagonal stripes as decoration.]</p><p><br /></p><p>PROVIDEN TIAE AVGG [In honor of the foresight of the Emperors]; campgate with two turrets and star above. Not sure if legend is AVG or AVGG.</p><p><br /></p><p>Of these coins Victor has written, “”The ‘eyes to the heavens’ bust type was officially issued in bronze in three reverse types. It was used for VOT XXX, PROVIDENTIAE AVGG and DAFNE types. Sometimes this bust type turns up on CONSTANTINOPOLIS and VRBS ROMA, but this was probably more of the engravers decision than an official design from the mint. It may even turn up on other coins, like this votive from Siscia. It may be a complete accident that it has a slight tilt to the head or an example of artistic license on the part of the engraver.</p><p><br /></p><p>“It was used more in eastern mints, maybe because Constantine was shifting his capitol to Constantinople. Why did Constantine use this bust type? This type was probably copied from an earlier Greek design, but what, if anything, prompted the use of this type?&nbsp; This type was being issued circa 325-6. During this time, Constantine summoned the Council of Nicea in 325 and celebrated his vicennalia (15 year anniversary). Eusebius tells us this type was issued because of the religious conviction of Constantine.&nbsp; Constantine was also in the process of moving the capitol to Constantinople at this time.&nbsp; It seems likely that Constantine was sending a message to the world with the 'eyes to the heavens' coinage. A message of his increasing beliefs and convictions.</p><p><br /></p><p>&quot;’How deeply his soul was impressed by the power of divine faith may be understood from the circumstance that he directed his likeness to be stamped on the golden coin of the empire with eyes uplifted as in the posture of prayer to God: and this money became current throughout the Roman world.’&quot; Eusebius (IV.15) <a href="http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/symbols/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/symbols/" rel="nofollow">http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/symbols/</a>[/USER][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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