Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Auction 117 19-20 May 2021
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Galerius. AD 305-311. Æ Follis (28.5mm, 7.08 g, 6h). Cyzicus mint, 2nd officina. Struck circa AD 308. IMP GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, laureate head right / VIRTVS MILITVM, camp gate with open arched entrance with raised gate, surmounted by four tripod beacons; MKB. RIC VI 39. Dark dark green/black patina, some minor deposits. EF. Rare.
Ex Jack A. Frazer Collection; Berk BBS 100 (29 January 1998), lot 546 (paid $2,000).
The various depictions of camp gates on Roman coinage feature a few puzzling details. Some gates are clearly crenelated, with squarish projections at the top. In this case and many others, though, the top of the gate is flat, surmounted by between two and four globular objects, each resting on tripod legs. These are almost certainly not projecting "turrets," as they are often described. In fact they most resemble the tripod lebes (also seen on many Roman coins) used to perform sacrifices. Since a sacrificial function seems unlikely in this military context, it is plausible to suppose that these represent either lamps or signaling beacons.
Ex Jack A. Frazer Collection; Berk BBS 100 (29 January 1998), lot 546 (paid $2,000).
The various depictions of camp gates on Roman coinage feature a few puzzling details. Some gates are clearly crenelated, with squarish projections at the top. In this case and many others, though, the top of the gate is flat, surmounted by between two and four globular objects, each resting on tripod legs. These are almost certainly not projecting "turrets," as they are often described. In fact they most resemble the tripod lebes (also seen on many Roman coins) used to perform sacrifices. Since a sacrificial function seems unlikely in this military context, it is plausible to suppose that these represent either lamps or signaling beacons.