http://www.stampandcoin.co.uk FEBRUARY 2016 99raised structure in the line. On some
coins decoration and other details
clearly show on the structures. Others
are simple blocks with five, six or
seven bands of stonework. A few have
hinged and occasionally swinging
doors; but many have simple openings
through the stonework. The numbers
and shapes of the beacons also vary in
size and appearance.
On many Roman coins that
depicted a star alongside some other
element in the overall design – in this
case a sturdy gate with a tower, stone
walls and warning beacons above –
the engraver was often reminding the
user that there was greater significance
in the element than at first met
the eye. The mint may have been
suggesting that a strong watchtower
personified the Emperor, or the
Empire, on guard against threats to
Roman citizens. The very act of giving
and receiving coins with such imagery
during everyday life would have
reinforced the message that all was well
and that the Emperor and the military
had complete command, despite
rumours of impending attacks from
across the border. Reverse legends such
as ‘PROVIDENTIAE AVG’ (foresight
of the Emperor) reinforced popular
belief that the Emperor and the armies
were making the right preparations,
and taking the right actions, to defeat
barbarian threats.
The use of signalling systems that
used flames or coloured smoke to
transmit messages from elevated
positions was well documented in
Roman war records. Trajan’s Column
in Rome, set up in AD 113 to record
victory over the Dacians a few years
earlier, shows a type of signalling tower
in use around 250 years before they
appeared on 4th-century coins. The
book Trajan’s Column And The Dacian
Wars (1971) by Lino Rossi gives
an excellent description: The signal
towers, constructed from ashlar blocks,
have two storeys, hipped roofs, and a
balcony or viewing platform around
the upper floor. A long signalling torch
thrusts out from the balcony ready to
be lit. Each signal tower is surrounded
by a square palisade where supplies
of straw flares for making smoke, and
logs to burn as fire signals, are stacked.
I mentioned at the outset that a
few puzzling questions concerning
the signalling systems seen on4th-century coins still await answers.
Why, for example, were two, three
or four beacons set up on one tower?
A single beacon could show only as
lit or unlit when seen from the next
tower in a line, perhaps indicating yes
or no to the viewer. Three and four
lights would have greatly increased
the sophistication of messages that
could be sent, possibly giving news of
numbers of the enemy approaching;
or whether cavalry or foot-soldiers.
The height of the tower determined
by the number of bands of stonework
might simply indicate that the terrain
was hilly and required taller towers to
ensure that signals could be seen above
obstacles. It is also possible that taller
towers were set up in areas where foodand weapons needed during extended
operations might have been stored. As
to the unusual shapes of beacons, and
why some doors could be closed or
opened, I shall leave those puzzles for
you to get your teeth into once you
start collecting the Campgate series.
Because many coins in this series
fall into low price bands they make
up much of the stock offered by
small dealers who operate on eBay.
Don’t forget to widen your search to
European eBay sites; many detectorists
in European countries find Campgate
coins and supply them to their local
dealers. If starting your collection on
a really tight budget why not take a
chance on an uncleaned lot? Almost
any group of fifty detector-foundROMAN CAMPGATE COINSThe series of coins
depict camp gates,
part of the Roman
fortifications used to
send warning signals
along the bordersp98 Campgates.indd 99 21/12/2015 10:24