Two Rare Camp Gate Issues // In Perspective

Sale: CNG 78, Lot: 1841. Estimate $750.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 14 May 2008.  Sold For $660. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Galerius. AD 305-311. Æ Follis (5.74 g, 6h). Cyzicus mint, 1st officina. Struck circa AD 308. Laureate head right / Camp gate, in perspective, with four turrets and no doors; MKA. RIC VI 39. Good VF, dark green-brown patina.

Although it is not differentiated in RIC, a comparison of this and the following coin shows that there are two varieties in this issue. While the following coin has the traditional camp gate depiction, the present coin has an additional line running behind the crenellation at the top of the camp gate. This is probably an attempt by the celator to display the camp gate in perspective from above, akin to that on many of the city gate argentei.