British Coin Inscriptions in Alphabetical Order
Synopsis
UK coin dealer's list of legends (inscriptions) on British coins, with translations and usage, by Chard.
The following list gives major variations of inscriptions found on British coins. There will be many variations and abbreviations which we have not shown. If you spot any errors or omissions, please let us know.
U and V are Interchangeable
U and V are often interchangeable in Latin.
We are always getting e-mails from people telling us that they have got a coin with a mis-spelt inscription. Much more than 99% of the time, they have got a coin with an absolutely normal inscription, it's just that they don't realise it.
One of the commonest "lettering error" we get asked about is from people who have found a letter V where they believe there should be a letter U.
In the tables below the first column has the original inscription and then in the second we convert Latin "V "into English U if it is used as a vowel, and leave it as a V if it is a consonant.
World Coins
As stated, this list shows inscriptions in British coins, although when we have time, if ever, we may try to add a few of the commonest non-British inscriptions also.
Starting with "A"
| Original Inscription | Inscription with Conversion | Translation | Found Where |
| A DOMINO FACTVM EST ISTVD ET MIRABILE IN OCVLIS NOSTRIS | A DOMINO FACTUM EST ISTUD ET MIRABILE IN OCULIS NOSTRIS | This is the Lord's doing and it is marvellous in our eyes | Fine sovereign of Mary |
| AMOR POPVLI I PRAESIDIVM REGIS | AMOR POPULI PRAESIDIUM REG(is) | The love of the people is the Queen's protection | 2002 Golden Jubilee Crowns |
| AMOR POPULI I PRAESIDIUM REGIS | The love of the people is the King's protection | Charles I angels | |
| ANNO REGNO PRIMO, etc. | In the first year of the reign, etc. | large milled coins, e.g. Victoria Old head crowns | |
| ANNO REGNO (roman numerals for year) | In the year of the reign, etc. | large milled coins, e.g. Victoria Old head crowns |
Starting with "B"
| Original Inscription | Inscription with Conversion | Translation | Found Where |
| BRITANNIA | Britannia | Halfpence & Farthings of Charles II onwards | |
| BRITANNIARVM REX | BRITANNIARUM REX | King of the Britains | |
| BRITANNIARVM OMNIVM, abbr. to BRIT(T) OMN | BRITANNIARUM OMNIUM, abbr. to BRIT(T) OMN | King of all the Britains | |
| BRITT OMN REX FID DEF IND IMP | King of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India | ||
| BRVNSVICIENSIS ET LVNEBVRGENSIS DVX, abbr. to BR ET L D | BRUNSVICIENSIS ET LUNEBURGENSIS DUX, abbr. to BR ET L D | Duke of Brunswick & Luneburg | George I, II, III |
Starting with "C"
| Original Inscription | Inscription with Conversion | Translation | Found Where |
| CAROLI FORTUNA RESURGAM | I, the fortune of Charles, shall rise again | ||
| CHARITIE AND CHANGE | Charity & change | Cromwell farthing | |
| CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO | CHRISTO AUSPICE REGNO | I reign under the auspices of Christ | Charles I onwards |
| CIVITAS BRISTOLL, (variations) | City of Bristol | Edward I onwards | |
| CIVITAS CANTOR | City of Canterbury | Edward I onwards | |
| CIVITAS COVETRE | City of Coventry | ||
| CIVITAS DVNELMIS | City of Durham | Edward I onwards | |
| CIVITAS DVREME | City of Durham | Edward I onwards | |
| CIVITAS EBORACI | City of York | Edward I onwards | |
| CIVITAS LONDON | City of London | Edward I onwards | |
| CIVITAS NORVIC | City of Norwich | ||
| CIVITAS TORNACEN | City of | ||
| CIVIVM INDVSTRIA FLORET CIVITAS | CIVIUM INDUSTRIA FLORET CIVITAS | By the industry of its citizens, the city flourishes | 1951 Crown |
| CVLTORES SVI DEVS PROTEGIT | CULTORES SUI DEUS PROTEGIT | God protects his worshippers | Charles I Gold crowns |
Starting with "D"
| Original Inscription | Inscription with Conversion | Translation | Found Where |
| DECUS ET TUTAMEN | An ornament and a safeguard | Edge of many milled coins | |
| DEI GRA ANGL ET FRAN DO N HYB ET AQVIT | DEI GRA ANGL ET FRAN DO N HYB ET AQUIT | By the Grace of God, King of England & France, Lord of Ireland & Aquitaine | |
| DEI GRATIA | By the Grace of God | ||
| DIEU ET MON DROIT | God and my right | George IV halfcrowns onwards | |
| D GR P ANG SCO ET HIB & PRO | Cromwell Coins | ||
| D G M B FR ET H REX F D BR ET L D S R I A TH ET EL | By the Grace of God, King of Great Britain France & Ireland, Defender of The Faith, Duke of Brunswick & Luneburg, High Treasurer and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire | George I, II, III | |
| DIRIGE DEVS GRESSVS MEOS | DIRIGE DEUS GRESSUS MEOS | May The Lord protect my steps | Una and the lion £5 piece 1839 |
| DOMINE NE IN FVRORE TVO ARGVAS ME | DOMINE NE IN FURORE TUO ARGUAS ME | O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger | Edward III half florin onwards |
| DVM SPIRO SPERO | DUM SPIRO SPERO | While I breathe, I hope | Charles I Pontefract issues |
Starting with "E"
| Original Inscription | Inscription with Conversion | Translation | Found Where |
| EXALTABITUR IN GLORIA | He shall be exalted in glory. | Quarter Nobles | |
| EXVRGAT DEVS ET DISSIPENTVR INIMICE EIVS | EXURGAT DEUS ET DISSIPENTUR INIMICE EIUS | Let The Lord arise and his enemies be scattered | James I coins |
Starting with "F"
| Original Inscription | Inscription with Conversion | Translation | Found Where |
| FACIAM EOS IN GENTEM VNAM | FACIAM EOS IN GENTEM UNAM | I will make them one nation | James I unites & laurels |
| FIDEI DEFENSOR, often abbr. to FID DEF, F D, etc. | Defender of the Faith | George IV first issue farthings | |
| FLORENT CONCORDIA REGNA | Kingdoms flourish through concord | Charles I unites | |
| FRANCIAE ET HIBERNIAE, often abbrev. to FRA ET HIB, et. | King of the French and Scots |
Starting with "G"
| Original Inscription | Inscription with Conversion | Translation | Found Where |
| GOD WITH VS | GOD WITH US | Commonwealth coins (Cromwell) |
Starting with "H"
| Original Inscription | Inscription with Conversion | Translation | Found Where |
| HANC DEVS DEDIT | HANC DEUS DEDIT | God has given this | Charles II Pontefract siege money |
| HAS NISI PERITVRVS MIHI ADIMAT NEMO | HAS NISI PERITURUS MIHI ADIMAT NEMO | Let no one remove these from me under pain of death | Cromwell crowns and halfcrowns |
| HENRICVS ROSAS REGNA JACOBVS | HENRICUS ROSAS REGNA JACOBUS | Henry united the roses, James the kingdoms | James I gold |
| HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE | Evil be to him who evil thinks thereof | Order of the Garter George IV Halfcrowns George IV Shillings Victoria Shillings Victoria 1887 Sixpences Victoria Florins Edward VII Halfcrowns George V Halfcrowns 1817 Sovereigns 1801 - 1813 George III Half Guineas |
Starting with "I"
| Original Inscription | Inscription with Conversion | Translation | Found Where |
| ICH DIEN (German) | I Serve | Decimal Twopences | |
| IHC AVTEM TRANSIENS | IHC AUTEM TRANSIENS | ||
| INDIAE IMPERATOR, abbr. to IND IMP | INDIAE IMPERATOR, abbr. to IND IMP | Emperor of India | |
| INIMICOS EIVS INDVAM CONFVSIONE | INIMICOS EIUS INDUAM CONFUSIONE | As for his enemies, I shall clothe them in shame | Edward VI Durham House shillings |
Starting with "J"
| Original Inscription | Inscription with Conversion | Translation | Found Where |
| JESVS AVTEM TRANSIENS PER MEDIVM ILLORVM IBAT | JESUS AUTEM TRANSIENS PER MEDIUM ILLORUM IBAT | But Jesus, passing through the midst of them, went his way | English gold nobles, ryals & sovereigns |
| JVSTITIA THRONVM FIRMAT | JUSTITIA THRONUM FIRMAT | Justice strengthens the throne | Charles I halfgroats & pennies |
Starting with "K"
None so far - please get in touch on live chat if you have one to add!
Starting with "L"
| Original Inscription | Inscription with Conversion | Translation | Found Where |
| LVCERNA PEDIBVS MEIS VERBVM EST | The word is a lamp unto my feet | Edward VI Durham House half sovereign |
Starting with "M"
| Original Inscription | Inscription with Conversion | Translation | Found Where |
| MAG BR FRA ET HIB REX | King of Great Britain France & Scotland | ||
| MAG BR FR ET HIB REX ET REGINA | King & Queen of Great Britain & Ireland | William & Mary | |
| MAGNA BRITANNIAE, often abbr. to M B, MAG BR etc. | Great Britain | ||
| M B F ET H REX F D B ET L D S R I A T ET E | By the Grace of God, King of Great Britain France & Ireland, Defender of The Faith, Duke of Brunswick & Luneburg, High Treasurer and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire | George I, II, III | |
| MIRABILIA FECIT | He made it marvellously | Viking coins of York | |
| MUNUS DIVINUM | A Divine Offering |
Starting with "N"
| Original Inscription | Inscription with Conversion | Translation | Found Where |
| NEMO ME IMPVNE LACESSIT | NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT | No one provokes me with impunity | 1984 Scottish Pound |
| NVMMORVM FAMVLVS | NUMMORUM FAMULUS | The servant of the coinage | C17 tin coinage |
Starting with "O"
| Original Inscription | Inscription with Conversion | Translation | Found Where |
| OBS NEWARK | Newark beseiged | Charles I Newark siege coins | |
| O CRVX AVE SPES VNICA | O CRUX AVE SPES UNICA | Hail O Cross, our only hope | All half angels |
Starting with "P"
| Original Inscription | Inscription with Conversion | Translation | Found Where |
| PAX MISSA PER ORBEM | Peace sent throughout the world | Anne farthing | |
| PAX QVAERITVR BELLO | PAX QUAERITUR BELLO | Peace is sought by war | Cromwell broad |
| PAXS | Peace | ||
| PER CRVCEM TVAM SALVA NOS CHRISTE REDEMPTOR | PER CRUCEM TUAM SALVA NOS CHRISTE REDEMPTOR | By thy Cross, save us, O Christ, our Redeemer | angels |
| PLEIDOL WYF I'M GWLAD | True am I to my country | 1985 Pounds | |
| POST MORTEM PATRIS PRO FILIO | For the son after the death of the father | Pontefract siege coins of 1648 | |
| POSVI DEVM ADIVTOREM MEVM | POSUI DEUM ADIUTOREM MEUM | I have made God my helper | Edward III silver onwards |
| PROTECTOR LITERIS LITERAE NVMMIS CORONA ET SALVS | PROTECTOR LITERIS LITERAE NUMMIS CORONA ET SALUS | A protection to the letters, the letters are a garland and a safeguard to the coinage | Cromwell fifty shillings |
Starting with "Q"
| Original Inscription | Inscription with Conversion | Translation | Found Where |
| QVAE DEVS CONIVNXIT NEMO SEPARET | QUAE DEUS CONIUNXIT NEMO SEPARET | What God has joined, let no one separate | James I large silver coins |
Starting with "R"
| Original Inscription | Inscription with Conversion | Translation | Found Where |
| REDDE CVIQVE QVOS SVVM EST | REDDE CUIQUE QUOS SUUM EST | Render to each that which is his own | Edward VIII Durham House groat |
| REGINA, often abbrev. to REG, R, etc | Queen | ||
| RELIGIO PROTESTANTIVM LEGES ANGLIAE LIBERTAS PARLIAMENTI | RELIGIO PROTESTANTIUM LEGES ANGLIAE LIBERTAS PARLIAMENTI | The religion of the Protestants, the laws of England and the liberty of Parliament | Charles I civil war issues |
| REL PROT LEG ANG LIB PAR | The religion of the Protestants, the laws of England and the liberty of Parliament | Charles I civil war issues | |
| RELIG PROT LEG ANG LIBER PAR | The religion of the Protestants, the laws of England and the liberty of Parliament | Charles I civil war issues | |
| REX | King | ||
| REX ANGL | King of the English | ||
| REX ANGLORVM | REX ANGLORUM | King of the English | |
| REX SAXONVM OCCIDENTALIVM | REX SAXONUM OCCIDENTALIUM | King of the West Saxons | |
| ROSA SINE SPINA | A rose without thorns | Henry VIII onwards | |
| RUGBY WORLD CUP 1999 | 1999 £2 coin | ||
| RVTILANS ROSA SINE SPINA | RUTILANS ROSA SINE SPINA | A dazzling rose without a thorn | Henry VIII onwards |
Starting with "S"
| Original Inscription | Inscription with Conversion | Translation | Found Where |
| SACRI ROMANI IMPERII ARCHI-THESAVRARIVS ET ELECTOR, abbr. to S R I A TH ET EL | High Treasurer and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire | George I, II, III | |
| SCVTVM FIDEI PROTEGET EAM | SCUTUM FIDEI PROTEGET EAM | The shield of Faith will protect her | Elizabeth I gold |
| SCVTVM FIDEI PROTEGET EVM | SCUTUM FIDEI PROTEGET EUM | The shield of Faith will protect him | Edward VI gold |
| SIC VOS NON VOBIS | Thus we labour, but not for ourselves | Edge of 1994 £2 coins | |
| STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS | Bi-metallic £2 coins |
Starting with "T"
| Original Inscription | Inscription with Conversion | Translation | Found Where |
| TALI DICATA SIGNO MENS FLVCTVARI NEQVIT | TALI DICATA SIGNO MENS FLUCTUARI NEQUIT | Consecrated by such a sign the mind cannot waver | Henry VIII George noble |
| THE COMMONWEALTH OF ENGLAND | Commonwealth of England | Commonwealth under Cromwell 1649 - 1660 | |
| TIMOR DOMINI FONS VITAE | The fear of The Lord is the fountain of life | Edward VI shillings | |
| FAITH AND TRUTH I WILL BEAR UNTO YOU | Elizabeth II crowns 1953 and 1993 | ||
| TVEATVR VNITA DEVS | TUEATUR UNITA DEUS | May God guard those united | James I coins |
Starting with "U,V,W,X,Y,Z"
| Original Inscription | Inscription with Conversion | Translation | Found Where |
| VERITAS TEMPORIS FILIA | Truth, the daughter of time | Mary coins | |
| VIGO | Vigo Bay | Anne 1702 & 1703 | |
| VILLA CALESIE | Town of Calais | Edward III onwards | |
| VIVAT REGINA ELIZABETHA | Long live Queen Elizabeth | 1996 crown | |
| WHAT'S PAST IS PROLOGUE | Millennium Crowns |
You may wish to visit some of our other pages:
Photo Gallery of Current British Coins
Value of my Coin. What's it Worth?
British Coin Denominations. What's a Groat,? etc.
Common Names of British Coins. What's a Tanner?
Engravers and Sculptors of British Coins
Read more articles on numismatic information, the gold sovereign, or our guides to buying gold or silver.
Related Blog Articles
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