Another curious camp gate

[4vgvstvs]

I had noticed Zach's post on the subject of the single G (in AVGG) of a camp gate he had acquired when looking through a large lot I noticed this example....

CONSTANTINVS P
Lr bust R
VIRTVS AVG . (dot)
Camp gate with closed doors and 2 turrets
ARLP

Very confusing, it looks like an official issue but the celator appears to have hit the mede when doing this one !

The flan is quite small at 16.5mm, any comments welcome.

[Magellan]

This is really an amazing coin Tony. I personally think it's of slightly unofficial barbarous style, but as you've correctly stated, it almost looks good enough to be official. I love the missing letters in the legends on both sides... I find these near-imitations to be much more fascinating than obviously barbarous types!

All aboard the Stockholm Express... I have a feeling that coin is going to be flying by Ikea in the near future. :D

[BeastCoins]

All aboard the Stockholm Express... I have a feeling that coin is going to be flying by Ikea in the near future. :D

Not if I can help it!

--Beast

[BeastCoins]

I had noticed Zach's post on the subject of the single G (in AVGG) of a camp gate he had acquired when looking through a large lot I noticed this example....

CONSTANTINVS P
Lr bust R
VIRTVS AVG . (dot)
Camp gate with closed doors and 2 turrets
ARLP

Very confusing, it looks like an official issue but the celator appears to have hit the mede when doing this one !

The flan is quite small at 16.5mm, any comments welcome.

Tony,

This really is a very interesting coin. Although the flan is small, it appears to be nearly the correct size for the dies. Both legends are, as you mention, not "correct" for this issue, so the coin has to fall into the "semi-official" or "imitative" categories. Based on the photos, it looks like a sanctioned mint product on the ground of style, so other clues would really help out a lot in understanding this example. You mention it was from a group lot - was it a group lot from a hoard? And would its find spot be known? That may lend to an explanation. By the way, did you see my Celator column this month? It's on this very topic (imitative/semi-official campgates).

Another point to note is that the coin has an exergual mark of ARLP. This is also not an "official" mark for the early issues (which lack the S | F or T | F field marks).

--Zach

[BeastCoins]

Tony,

By the way, your coin does not have "closed doors". It has the usual open archway. Here is an example showing closed doors (very rare)

http://www.beastcoins.com/RomanImperial/VII/Rome/RICVII-178-P_RP_R-closed-5.jpg

Constantine I, AE3, 318-319, Rome, Officina 1
CON_STANTI_NVS AVG
Helmeted, cuirassed bust left, spear pointing forward and shield in front
VIRTV_S AVGG
Campgate with five rows, three turrets, closed six-paneled doors, top and bottom rows empty blocks
P | R across fields
RP in exergue
RIC VII, 178

--Zach

[4vgvstvs]

Thanks for all the info Zach, much appreciated. This is from a hoard group but at the moment other than it coming from France I cannot say more because I do not know. Could be part of the 'Brok' group ?

Tony.

[BeastCoins]

Thanks for all the info Zach, much appreciated. This is from a hoard group but at the moment other than it coming from France I cannot say more because I do not know. Could be part of the 'Brok' group ?

Tony.

Tony,

Ah - that would make sense. The infamous Brok group. Man, there were some seriously killer coins in that hoard. Two of which are in my last Celator column. Good stuff there.

--Beast