A Review of Common Late Roman Coin Types
as commonly found in A.C.E. uncleaned coin lots
#8 The Watchtower or Campgate
Reasonably common and very popular, there are many minor variations on this general type. We will show three examples but it is very unlikely that your coin of this type will match exactly.
Upper left: Licinius I, 318-320 AD, AE3(bronze 17-20mm)
IMP LICI - NIVS AVG / PROVIDEN - TIAE AVGG SMHB L
Emperor Licinius I is shown in Consular robes and carries a scepter and mappa (rolled cloth) which were symbols of the Consulate. The reverse shows a tower with six rows of blocks and three beacons. The meaning of the L in the right field is not clear. The mintmark expands to Sacra Moneta (sacred money) of the mint at Heraclea, workshop 2 (B). This example still shows much of the original silver wash which was on most bronze coins of the period. While the coin might have contained no more than 1% silver, the presence of the precious metal was important to people who were reminded by the silvery appearance of the new coins. Relatively few coins survive today with full silvering.
Lower left: Constantine I, 328-329 AD, AE3(bronze 17-20mm)
CONSTAN - TINVS AVG / PROVIDEN - TIAE AVGG ASIS (double crescents)
Constantine I (the Great) is portrayed by a rather plain head but the watchtower in this case is much more ornate. There are eight rows of blocks and each block in the top row is decorated by a dot. The two beacons flank a central star. The mintmark begins with the Greek numeral for the first workshop (A) followed by SIS for the mint at Siscia. The meaning of the twin crescents is not clear but such symbols are usually described as being used to distinguish different issues from the mint. This is another matter that requires further study by the next generation of numismatists.
Upper right: Magnus Maximus 387-388 AD, AE4(bronze under 17mm - this about 12mm)
DN MAG MAXIMVS PF AVG / SPES ROMANORVM RT
Over 70 years after the other two, the watchtower was revived as a coin type for a short period. These late coins are usually terrible looking with partial legends (as shown here). The mintmark reads RT for Roma Tertius (3rd workshop of the mint at Rome). Any coin of Magnus Maximus is more scarce that the more common rulers shown here but most collectors show little interest in such ugly little coins. Actually this coin is large and beautiful compared to some issues of the 5th century from the final years of the Empire in the West. There are a few collectors very interested in the late coins and even fewer good looking specimens for them to collect. Being able to identify these tiny scraps of metal can be difficult (and rewarding, if you find a rare ruler). I have seen relatively few coins this late (and fewer from the 5th century) in ACE lots. The reverse has been changed to 'Hope of the Romans'. By this time there was not much left for the West besides hope.
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