Roman architecture on a coin
Camp Gates
In the early fourth century, camp gates were a common design on Roman copper coins. Doug Smith wrote a page on camp gate coins on ForumAncientCoins. He described them as: “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 “camp gate”. Primarily dating to the era of Licinius and Constantine (there are a few nearly a century later) we are shown a block structure with varying decorations and 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 and 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. 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 and the number of Weber kettles.
The most common coins of the camp gate series are from the years of civil war or unrest between the Emperors Constantine in the West and 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 and visa-versa. The vast numbers needed to support the war effort make these among the most common of coins. There are also camp gate issues using the reverse legend VIRTVS AVGG but most seen will be PROVIDENTIAE AVGG.”
I must admit, I did chuckle a little at “Camp gates were the common coins being issued at the end of the civil war and the type continued for quite a while into the sole reign of Constantine.” – THE civil war? In the Roman Empire? I don’t think you can say THE civil war, as there were so many! Wikipedia lists 32 civil wars for the third century alone (there were 24 emperors during the third century, which makes 1.5 civil wars for every commonly agreed emperor of that century).
To try to create stability, Roman emperor Carus elevated both his sons (Numerian and Carinus) as joint junior emperors, and Numerian’s successor, Diocletian went one step further, Creating the “Tetrarchy” in 293. The Tetrarchy comprised two joint emperors, and two junior emperors, to ensure smooth transition of rule. This lasted until 324, as I previously wrote about in this early commemorative coin.
Another page on the ForumAncientCoins site, notes of Camp Gates: “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.”

Sgira.org gives a succinct explanation with an image: “In ancient and medieval times, cities were generally surrounded by large walls for defence. Access was limited to the points where major roads from the surrounding towns passed through the walls. Gates allowed the city inhabitants to block access to the city at night and when threatened by hostile forces.”
Obverse

The obverse of this 20mm diameter bronze coin features a “laureate head right” of Constantine with the inscription: “CONSTAN_TINVS AVG” (“Constantine Augustus” – Augustus being a title taken by emperors meaning ‘majestic’ or ‘venerable’.
Laureate comes from the laurel, an evergreen shrub or small tree. The laurel was sacred to the Greek and Roman god Apollo. This association meant that sprigs of its leaves were made into crowns or wreaths and given to poets, heroes and emperors as a mark of honour.
Reverse

The reverse shows a camp gate without doors, with two beacons, a star above, with 8 stone layers. The inscription is “PROVIDEN_TIAE AVGG” and in the exergue (at the bottom) is SMKA Cyzicus (modern-day Kapu Dagh, Türkiye). The A at the end possibly denotes the first workshop at that mint. The mint was opened by Gallienus around 60 years before this coin was struck, and it continued to operate well into the Byzantine era. Tesorillo describes camp gate coins such as this from Constantine. It is a great reference for late Roman bronze coins.
What is your favourite building on a coin? This is one of my favourites, but do let us know yours!
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