Greek Coin Legends Explained: How to Read Ancient Greek Coin Inscriptions

Ancient Greek coins are more than silver and bronze artifacts — they are written documents in metal. Every letter, abbreviation, and symbol on a Greek coin was placed there for a reason. Yet for many collectors, Greek coin legends remain one of the most intimidating aspects of numismatics.

This guide is designed to change that.

By the end of this article, you’ll be able to read, recognize, and understand Greek coin legends, even if you don’t know the Greek language. Whether you’re identifying a coin from a market, auction, or collection, mastering legends will instantly elevate your confidence and accuracy.

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What Is a Greek Coin Legend?

A coin legend is the inscription found on the obverse (front) or reverse (back) of a coin. On ancient Greek coins, legends usually identify:

• The city or region that issued the coin

• A ruler, king, or authority

• A god or mythological figure

• A magistrate or official

• Sometimes a title or honorific

Unlike Roman coins, Greek legends are often short, fragmented, or partially off-flan, making them harder to read at first glance.

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Why Greek Coin Legends Matter

Understanding legends allows you to:

• Identify where a coin was minted

• Date coins more accurately

• Distinguish similar types from different cities

• Spot forgeries or modern fantasy issues

• Understand the political or religious message behind the coin

For collectors, legends are often more important than the image itself.

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The Greek Alphabet on Coins (Quick Overview)

Greek coins use the Ancient Greek alphabet, which looks unfamiliar at first but follows consistent patterns.

Here are the most common letters you’ll encounter:

👉 Tip: On coins, Σ (sigma) may appear as C.

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Most Common Types of Greek Coin Legends

1. City or Ethnic Legends (Most Common)

These identify the issuing city and are usually written in plural form, meaning “of the people of…”

Examples:

• ΑΘΗΝΑΙΩΝ — of the Athenians (Athens)

• ΚΟΡΙΝΘΙΩΝ — of the Corinthians (Corinth)

• ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ — of the Syracusans (Syracuse)

These legends typically appear on the reverse.

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2. Ruler or King Names

Hellenistic kings placed their names proudly on coins.

Common formula:
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ + Name
Meaning: “Of King …”

Examples:

• ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ — Of King Alexander

• ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ — Of King Lysimachos

• ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ — Of King Ptolemy

These are extremely important for dating and attribution.

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3. Abbreviated Legends

Greek mints often shortened legends to save space.

Examples:

• ΑΛΕΞ — Alexander

• ΒΑΣ — King

• ΔΗΜ — Demos (people)

• ΜΑΚ — Macedon

Abbreviations are common on small silver and bronze coins.

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4. Magistrate Names

Many city-state coins include the name of a local official, often in small letters.

Example:

• A name placed below a figure

• Letters in the field

• Monograms formed from two or more letters

Magistrate legends help specialists narrow dates to specific years.

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How to Read Greek Coin Legends Step-by-Step

Step 1: Ignore the Image First

Focus only on letters, not gods or portraits.

Step 2: Identify Familiar Letters

Look for repeated shapes (Α, Λ, Μ, Σ).

Step 3: Read Around the Coin

Legends often follow the circular edge — clockwise or counter-clockwise.

Step 4: Complete Missing Letters

Coins are struck, not printed. Missing letters are normal.

Example:

• ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔ… = ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ

Step 5: Match the Ending

Greek endings are key:

• -ΩΝ = of the people

• -ΟΥ = of someone (genitive)

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Common Greek Coin Legend Endings Explained

Once you recognize endings, legends become predictable.

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Greek vs Roman Coin Legends (Key Difference)

Greek coins prioritize identity and tradition, not propaganda.

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Why Some Greek Coins Have No Legends

Early Greek coins (6th–5th century BC) often lack inscriptions entirely.

Reasons:

• Symbols alone identified cities

• Literacy was not universal

• Local recognition mattered more than text

Examples:

• Athenian owl coins

• Corinthian Pegasos staters

• Aegina turtle staters

Legends became more common in the Classical and Hellenistic periods.

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Monograms: The Hidden Legends

Many Greek coins use monograms — compressed letters forming a symbol.

Example:

• Α + Λ = ΑΛ (Alexander)

• Μ + Ν = magistrate initials

Monograms require reference tools, but they are not random decorations.

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Common Beginner Mistakes

• Reading legends upside-down

• Confusing Greek Σ with Latin C

• Assuming every name is a ruler

• Ignoring abbreviations

• Expecting perfect spelling

Ancient dies were hand-engraved — errors are normal.

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Tools to Help Read Greek Coin Legends

• Greek alphabet chart

• Auction catalog descriptions

• Museum databases

• NumisHaven identification guides

• Comparison with known examples

With practice, legends become intuitive.

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Why Mastering Legends Changes Everything

Collectors who understand legends:

• Buy with confidence

• Avoid misattributions

• Discover rare varieties

• Appreciate historical context

• Build better collections

Legends turn coins from objects into voices from antiquity.

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Greek Coin Legend Chart: Letters, Words, and Endings Every Collector Should Know

Reading Greek coin legends becomes easy once you stop guessing and start recognizing patterns. This page is a practical decoder — the kind collectors actually use while identifying coins.

Bookmark it. Save it. Print it.

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The Most Common Greek Coin Words (Decoded)

City & People Legends

🧠 Ending -ΩΝ almost always means “of the people of”.

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Royal & Political Terms

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Greek Name Endings (The Secret Shortcut)

This is where most beginners level up.

📌 Example:
ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ = of Alexander

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Abbreviations You Will See Constantly

Greek mints loved abbreviations.

If a legend feels “cut short”, it probably is.

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Greek Coin Monograms (Quick Guide)

Monograms are compressed legends.

Examples:

• ΑΛ = Alexander

• ΜΝ = magistrate initials

• ΠΡ = city or official

They usually appear:

• In the field

• Under a throne

• Near symbols

📌 Monograms = information, not decoration.

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Step-by-Step Legend Decoding Method (Checklist)

Use this every time:

1. Ignore the image

2. Identify 2–3 letters

3. Look at the ending

4. Ask: city or king?

5. Compare with known types

This works on 90% of Greek coins.

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Reminder: Why Legends Matter More Than Images

Images can be reused.
Legends rarely lie.

Legends tell you:

• Who issued the coin

• Where it belongs

• When it was struck

• Why it exists

That’s real numismatics.

Final Thoughts

Greek coin legends are not barriers — they are invitations. Each letter connects you directly to a city, a ruler, or a people who lived over two thousand years ago.

Once you learn to read them, ancient Greek coins stop being mysterious and start telling their stories clearly.

And that’s when collecting becomes truly rewarding.