The list underneath will help you to read among the common inscriptions. Either the letters on the coin would be missing or the coin won’t be perfectly centered.
The absence of letters is maybe due to a missing chip or damaged dies. However, this still doesn’t stop you from knowing how it can be readed, and this is possible if you’re able to learn as shared below.
An example is that, if you witness a reverse legend that ends with IO and starts with FE. This will immediately click you by saying as FEL TEMP REPARATIO. On the other hand, if GL…..A RO….RVM is readed, then it’s called as GLORIA ROMANORVM.
Since, certain designs are featured with similar legends, so it gets more easier. An example is similar to a fallen horseman having a FEL TEMP legend.
Once, some of the new coins are acquired, you’ll ultimately start witnessing the trends. Moreover, by watching pictures on the internet, catalogs, or even coins that help you to learn about the common legends, will take your problems away.
Well, finally a time will come, you would have recognized the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, and many other pictures on the coins. In fact, there would be a limited number of legends available.
The presence of ‘century’ below in the bracket list, tells another abbreviation of the most common century. Similar, to those which meant different things and were used in different times.
Meanings of Common Inscriptions
| Inscription | Meaning |
| ABVNDANTIA | abundance or plenty (personification) |
| AETERNIT | forever |
| ALAMANNIA | the Alamanni; a Germanic tribe |
| AVG, AVGVSTVS | emperor |
| AVGG, AVGGG | 2 or more emperors, 3 emperors |
| BEAT, BEATA | blessed |
| BRIT | Britannicus : a title, when used with name = defeater of the Britans |
| C | Gaius : name, if comes before another C |
| C, CAE, CAES | Caesar : denoted a junior person |
| CAESS | 2 or more Caesars |
| CONCORDIA | harmony or concord (personification) |
| CARITAS | dearness, affection |
| C, CO, COS, CONS | Consul : a high Roman office |
| COS III | office of Consul was held three times |
| COMITI | comrade |
| CONS, CONSERV, CONSERVATORI | preserver, conservator |
| DAC | Dacicus : defeater of the Dacians (title) |
| DACIA | Dacia (ancient Romania), province |
| DEVICTA | victory over; defeated |
| DN | Dominus Noster : Our Lord (4th century) |
| DDNN | our lords (4th century) |
| DV, DIV, DIVA, DIVO | Divine : applied to deceased rulers |
| EXERC, EXERCIT, EXERCITI, EXERCITVM | army |
| F | Filius : son (used in 1st/2nd century) |
| F, FE, FEL | Felix : happy (used in 3rd/4th century) |
| FEL TEMP REPARATIO | happy times (days) are here again |
| FELICITAS | happiness and prosperity (personification) |
| FIDES | loyalty, or good faith (personification) |
| FIDES MILITVM | loyalty of the army |
| GENIO | to Genius, a protecting spirit |
| GENIO POPVLI ROMANI | to the Genius of the Roman people |
| GERM | Germanicus : a title, when used with name = defeater of the Germans |
| GERM | Germania : province north of Rome |
| GLORIA | glory |
| GLORIA EXERCITVS | the glory of the army |
| GLORIA ROMANORVM | the glory of Rome |
| HERC | Hercules |
| HOC SIGNO VICTOR ERIS | under this sign you will be victorious |
| IMP | Imperator : leader of the army |
| IMPARI | emperors |
| INV, INVICTO | Invictus : invincible, unconquerable |
| IOM | Iovi Optimo Maximo = Best and Greatest Jupiter |
| IOV, IOVI | Jupiter, to Jupiter |
| IVL | Julius : used before emperor’s name |
| IVVENT | junior, young |
| LAETITIA | Joy (personification) |
| LEG | Legion (of the army) |
| MARS, MARTEM, MARTI | Mars, to Mars |
| MAX | Maximus : the greatest |
| MILIT, MILITVM | army |
| MVTVA | mutual |
| NC, NOB C, NOB CAES | Nobilis Caesar : Noble Caesar |
| N, NOST | Noster : our (4th century) |
| N | nepos : grandson (1st/2nd century) |
| ORBIS | world |
| ORIENS | rising sun or fortune |
| P | Pius : happy (3rd/4th century) |
| PF | Pius Felix : pious happy (3rd/4th cent.) |
| PAC, PACIF, PACIFERO | pacifier, bringer of peace |
| PART, PARTHICO | Parthicus : a title, when used with name = defeater of the Parthians |
| PAX | Peace (personification) |
| PERP | Perpetuus : forever (1st century) |
| PERPETVITAS AVG | Immortality of the emperors |
| PM, PONT MAX | Pontifex Maximvs : high priest |
| PP | Pater Patriae : father of his country |
| PRINCIPI | first (among men), leader |
| PROFECTIO | departure |
| PROPVG, PROPVGNATOR | defender, used with Mars and Jupiter |
| PT | Pater : father (with AVGG; of Augusti) |
| POPVLI | people |
| PRON | pronepos : great grandson |
| PROVIDENTIAE | foresight (personification) |
| RECTOR | master |
| REDVCI | returning, leading back |
| REGINA | queen |
| REX | king |
| REIPVB, REIPVBLICAE | the Republic |
| RESTITVTOR | restorer |
| ROM, ROMANI, ROMANORVM | Rome, Roman |
| SALVS | Health and Safety |
| SARMATIA | the Sarmatians; a Germanic tribe |
| SC | Senatus Consulto = issued by the decree of the Senate |
| SM | Sacra Moneta : sacred money |
| SPES | hope (personification) |
| SOL, SOLI | the Sun god, to the Sun god |
| SPQR | SENATUS POPULUSQUE ROMANUS The Senate and the Roman People |
| STATOR | stabilizer |
| PR | same as SPQR above (1st/2nd century) |
| TEMP, TEMPORVM | time |
| TRANQVILLITAS | peace |
| TRP, TRIB POT, P | Tribvnicia Potestas : power of the tribune |
| TVTATORI | defender |
| VBERTAS | fertility (personification) |
| VICTOR | victor, defeater : title |
| VICTORIA | Victory (personification) |
| VIRTVS | Virtue, courage (personification) |
| VLTOR | avenger |
| VNMR | Venerabilis Memoria : revered memory |
| VOT, VOTA, VOTIS | Vota : vows |
| VRB, VRBIS | city |
Abbreviations of common Roman Names
| Abbreviation | Name |
| ANT | Antonius |
| AV, AVR | Aurelius |
| C | Caius |
| CL | Clodius |
| ESV | Esuvius |
| FL | Flavius |
| IVL | Julius |
| L | Lucius |
| LIC, LICIN | Licinus |
| M, MA | Marcus |
| P | Publius |
| Q | Quintus |
| SEPT | Septimius |
| SER | Servius |
| SEV | Severus |
| T | Titus |
| VA, VAL | Valerius |
| VIB | Vibus |
Abbreviations of less common Roman Names
| Abbreviation | Name |
| C | Caeliuss |
| Cn | Gnaeus |
| D | Decimus |
| DID | Didus |
| K | Kaeso |
| M | Messius |
| MAG | Magnus |
| OPEL | Opelius |