These translations are from
Roman Bronze Coins:
From Paganism to Christianity 294-364 A.D. by Victor
"Tory" Failmezger.
He has graciously given his consent for me to reproduce his work
here.
The translations were originally checked by Michael Braunlin who
is assistant
head of the Classics Library at University of Cincinnati. I
highly recommend
this book for anyone who collects this time period.
The legends below are
only for
Constantine the Great!
1. For the purpose of this list, the title
Augustus
is often interchanged with the title Emperor.
2. When the title is listed as AVG, this
refers
to only one Emperor even if there were several who shared this
title
at the same time. If it is listed as AVGG or AVGGG,
it represents
two or three Emperors. The obverse does not follow this convention
since
it is generally issued in the name of one ruler only. The same
applies
for N orNN (Noster-our) and for CAES
and CAESS,
which stands for one or two Caesars.
3. Many of the legends have VOT or VOTIS
attached:
if that is the case, add on to the phrase the appropriate number
of vows.
4. Sometimes legends will have an honorific
associated
with them such as DN ("Our Lord") and sometimes not; it
is best
to look for several combinations if the legend is not immediately
found.
5. Legend variations are found in parenthesis.
AETERNA PIETAS- Everlasting
Piety. ADVENTVS AVG (G)(N)(NN)-
The arrival of our Emperor(s).
AETERNITAS AVG N- The
immortality
of our Emperor.
AETERNA(E) MEMORIA(E)-
To
Eternal memory.
ALAMANNIA DEVICTA- On
the
occasion of the Alemannia being conquered.
APOLLONI SANCT(O)- To
holy
Apollo.
CLARITAS REIPVBLICAE-
Renown
of the state.
COMITI AVG(G)(NN)- To
the
companion of our Emperor(s).
CONCORDIA AVGG (NN)-
Harmony
of our Emperor(s).
CONCORDIA DD NN- Harmony
of our Lords.
CONCORDIA IMPERII-
Harmony
of the empire.
CONCORDIA M FELIX DD NN-
The fortunate harmony of the soldiers of our Lords.
CONCORDIA MILIT(VM)- The
harmony of the soldiers.
CONCORDIA PERPET DD NN-
The
everlasting harmony of our lords.
CONSECRATIO-
Consecration.
CONSERVATOR(I)(ES) AFRICA
SVAE
(AVG N)- Our Emperor(s) (in honor of), savior of his
(their) Africa.
CONSERVATOR(I)(ES) KART SVAE
(AVG N)- Our Emperor(s) (in honor of), savior of his
(their) Carthage.
CONSERV(ATORES) VRB SVAE-
In honor of the savior(s) of his (their) city.
CONSVL VII PP PROCOS-
Consul
for the seventh time, father of the Country and Proconsul.
CONSTANTINI AVGVSTI VOTIS XX-
20 year (vicennalia) vows of Constantine the Emperor.
CONSTANTINIANA DAFNE-
Constantinian
Dafne
CONSTANTINO P AVG BRP NAT-
To Constantine, prince, Emperor, born for the welfare of the
State.
FELICITAS AVGG NN- The
happiness
of our Emperors.
FIDES MILITVM (AVG N)-
The
loyalty of (our Emperor's) soldiers
FVNDAT PACIS- To the
founder
of peace.
GENIO AVGG ET CAESS(ARVM) NN-
To the spirit of our Emperors and Caesars.
GENIO AVGVSTI- To the
spirit
of the Emperor.
GENIO CAESARIS- To the
spirit
of the Caesar.
GENIO CIVITATIS- To the
spirit
of the city.
GENIO EXERCITVS- To the
spirit
of the army.
GENIO FIL AVGG- To the
spirit
of the son of the Emperors.
GENIO IMPERATORIS- To
the
spirit of the Emperor.
GENIO POP(VLI) ROM(ANI)-
To the spirit of the Roman people.
GLORIA EXERCITVS- The
glory
of the army.
GLORIA EXERCITVS KART-
The
glory of the army at Carthage.
GLORIA PERPET-
Everlasting
glory.
GLORIA ROMANORVM- The
glory
of the Romans.
HAEC VOTA MVLT ANN-
These vows
(undertaken) for many years.
HERCVLI CONSERVAT(ORI)(CAES)-
To Hercules savior (of the Caesar).
HERCVLI VICTORI- To
Hercules,
the victor.
IOM ET FORT CONSER DD NN
(AVG)(ET
CAES) (NOB CAESS)- To Jupiter powerful and great, (Iovi
Optimo Maximo),
and Fortune, preservers of our Lords Augustus and Caesar.
IOVI CONSERVAT (ORI)(AVG(G)
(NN)
(CAESS)- To Jupiter, the savior of our Emperors (Caesars).
ISIS FARIA- Isis, of the
Island of Pharos.
IVST VENER MEMOR- To
(his)
memory, justly to be remembered.
MARS PACIF- Mars, the
peacemaker.
MARS VICTOR- Mars, the
victor.
MARTI COMITI AVG N- To
Mars,
comrade of our Emperor.
MARTI CONSER(VATORI)
(AVG)(N)-
To Mars, the savior of our Emperor.
MARTI PACIFERO AVG N- To
Mars, the peacemaker of our Emperor.
MARTI PATR SEMP VICTORI-
To our father Mars, always victorious.
MARTI PATRI CONSER(VATORI)-
To Mars, the saving father.
MARTI PATRI PROPVG(NATORI)-
To Mars, the defending father.
MARTI PROPVGNATORI- To
Mars,
the defender.
MEMORIA DIVI CONSTANTI-
To
the memory of the divine Constantius.
MEMORIA FELIX- Happy
memory.
MEMORIAE AETERNAE- In
honor
of everlasting memory.
MVLTIS X- Vows repeated
for
10 years (decennalia).
MVLTIS XX- Vows repeated
for twenty years (vicennalia).
MVLTIS XXX- Vows
repeated
for thirty years (tricennalia).
MVLT NATAL FEL- Many
happy
births.
PACI PERPET XII- In
honor of
eternal peace.
PAX PERPETVA- Eternal
peace.
PERPETVA VIRTVS- Eternal
strength.
PERPETVITAS AVGG- The
perpetuity
of the Emperors.
PLVRA NATAL FEL- May
there
be many happy births.
PR (POPVLVS ROMANVS)-
Roman
people.
PRINCIPI IVVENT BRP NAT-
To the Prince of Youth, born for the good of the state.
PRINCI(PI) IVVENTVT(IS)-
In honor of the Prince of Youth.
PROVIDENTIAE (AVGG) (CAESS)-
In
honor of the foresight of the Emperors (Caesars).
RECVPERATOR VRB(IS) SVAE-
To
the recovery of his city.
REQVIES OPTIMORVM
MERIT(ORVM)-
To the retirement of the best (Emperors).
RESTITVTOR VRBIS SVAE-
Restorer
of his city (meaning Rome).
ROMAE AETER- To
everlasting
Rome.
ROMAE AETER (AVGG)- To
the
everlasting Rome of the Emperors.
ROMAE AETERNAE XV- To
everlasting
Rome, fifteen yearly vows.
ROMAE RESTITVTAE- To
Rome,
having been restored.
SACRA MONETA VRB AVGG ET
CAESS NOSTR-
The sacred money of the city of our Augusti and Caesars.
SAECVLI FELIC(ITAS) AVG (N)-
Happy times of the (our) Emperor.
SALVIS AVG ET CAESS (AVCTA)
(FEL)
KART- With the Emperor and Caesars being safe, happy
Carthage is strengthened.
SAPIENT PRINCIP- Wisdom
of
the Prince.
SARMATIA DEVICTA- On
the
occasion of Sarmatia being conquered.
SECVRIT PERPET DD NN-
Eternal
security of our Emperors.
SECVRITAS AVGG- The
security
of the Emperors.
SOLI INVICTO COMITI- To
my companion the invincible sun (god).
SPES PVBLIC- Public
hope.
SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI- The
senate
and people of Rome to the best of Princes.
VBERTAS SAECVLI- The
fruitfulness
(abundance) of the age.
VICTORIA(AE) AET(ERNA)
AVG(GG)
(N)NN- Eternal victory of our Emperors.
VICTORIA AVG(G) (N)(NN)-
Victory of (the) (our) Emperor(s).
VICTORIA AVGG (AVGVSTORVM)-
Victory of the Emperors.
VICTORIA LAET(AE) PRINC
PERP-
Joyous (well-earned) victory to the eternal Prince.
VICTORIAE LIBERAE- In
honor
of victory, now free (liberated).
VIRT CONSTANTINI AVG- Valor
of
Constantine, Emperor.
VIRT EXERC- Valor of the
army.
VIRT EXERCIT GALL XVI-
Valor
of the army of Gaul.
VIRT PERP CONSTANTINI AVG-
The unfailing (perpetual) valor of Constantine, the Emperor.
VIRTVS(TI) AVG(G) (N)(NN)
(ET
CAESS NN)- The valor (in honor of) of our Emperors
(Caesars).
VIRTVS CONSTANTINI CAES- The
valor
of Caesar Constantine.
VIRTVS(TI) EXERCIT(VS)(VM)-
In honor of the valor of the army.
VIRTVS MILITVM (DD NN)- The
valor
of the soldiers (of our lords).
VIRTVS PERPETVA AVG- The
everlasting valor of the Emperor.
VN MR (VENERANDAE MEMORIAE)-
In honor of venerated memory.
VTILITAS PVBLICA- Public
utility (common good).
VOT- Votive (vow).
