Roman Coin Inscriptions
Understanding Roman Coin Inscriptions: Decoding Latin Legends & Abbreviations
🧭 Why Inscriptions Matter
Ever stared at a Roman coin and thought, “What does TR P or PONT MAX even mean?” You’re not alone. Roman coin inscriptions — or legends — can look like alphabet soup to beginners, but they hold the key to identifying emperors, dating coins, and understanding Roman power.
Let’s break them down the way a real collector would — simply, visually, and without Latin headaches.
🔤 Common Latin Abbreviations (Front of the Coin)
Roman emperors loved titles. Their coins are full of them.
Here are the ones you’ll see the most on the obverse (front) of a coin:
| Abbreviation | Full Latin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| IMP | Imperator | Emperor or military commander |
| CAES | Caesar | Junior emperor or heir |
| AVG | Augustus | Ruler or exalted one |
| TR P | Tribunicia Potestas | Power of the tribune (renewed yearly) |
| P P | Pater Patriae | Father of the Fatherland |
| D N | Dominus Noster | Our Lord (used in late Empire) |
📌 Example:
IMP CAES TRAIAN AVG GER DAC PM TR P COS VI PP
➤ Translation: Emperor Caesar Trajan Augustus, Conqueror of the Germans and Dacians, Chief Priest, holder of tribunician power, consul for the sixth time, father of the fatherland.
🏛 Titles That Date Coins
Some inscriptions help you pinpoint the date the coin was minted. Here’s how:
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TR P (Tribunician Power): Usually renewed yearly. TR P VI = 6th year of power.
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COS (Consul): Each term as consul was numbered. COS III = 3rd time.
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IMP (Imperator): Victory title. IMP VII = 7th military acclamation.
⏳ Match these with known reigns to narrow down the coin’s year to a specific range (sometimes exact year).
🔄 Reverse Inscriptions & What They Mean
Reverse legends usually describe values, virtues, or victories:
| Abbreviation / Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| S C | Senatus Consulto – minted by decree of Senate |
| VICTORIA AVGG | Victory of the Emperors |
| FEL TEMP REPARATIO | Happy times are here again (used during crisis!) |
| GLORIA EXERCITVS | Glory of the Army |
| VIRTVS, PIETAS | Roman virtues (courage, piety, etc.) |
🔍 Even a worn coin can be ID’ed by spotting parts like “EXERC” or “FEL TEMP.”
🛡️ Inscriptions to Watch for in Late Roman Coins
By the 4th–5th century AD, coins started using more abbreviations like:
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DN FL CL CONSTANTIVS PF AVG
➤ Dominus Noster Flavius Claudius Constantius, Pious and Fortunate Augustus
These long strings look intense, but they’re often just name + title + virtues.
🧠 Quick Reference Glossary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| IMP | Emperor |
| AVG | Augustus |
| CAES | Caesar (junior ruler) |
| TR P | Tribunician Power |
| COS | Consulship |
| PONT MAX | Chief Priest |
| P P | Father of the Country |
| S C | Minted by Senate |
| DN | Our Lord (Late Empire) |
📥 Download the Latin Legend Decoder (PDF)
Want a printable cheat sheet with all these abbreviations and translations?
👉 Click here to download the Roman Coin Inscriptions Guide (PDF)
Perfect for collectors, dealers, and museum visits.
🔗 Internal Links for NumisHaven:
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Top 25 Roman Silver Coins