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GEORGIVS V. DG.BRITT: OMN: REX. FD. IND: IMP: Coin Inscription

Author: Lawrence Chard - Chairman and CEO

Published: 1 Mar 2019

Last Updated: 27 Dec 2022

Synopsis

This fairly cryptic inscription can be found on British coins of King George the Fifth from 1911 to 1936, and it means...

This is the inscription to be found on found on the obverse side of coins of George V.

 

Variations

The exact inscription varies slightly depending on the denomination, presumably because of the coin's size and the space available. The punctuation also varies.

 

Coin Inscription
Sovereign GEORGIVS V D.G.BRITT:OMN:REX F.D.IND:IMP:
Half Sovereign GEORGIVS V D.G.BRITT:OMN:REX F.D.IND:IMP:
Wreath Crown GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
1935 Crown GEORGIVS V. DG.BRITT: OMN: REX. FD. IND: IMP:
Halfcrown GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Florin GEORGIVS V D.G. BRITT: OMN: REX F.D. IND: IMP:
Shilling GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Sixpence GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX
Threepence GEORGIVS V D.G.BRITT:OMN:REX F.D.IND:IMP:
Penny GEORGIVS V DEI GRA:BRITT:OMN:REX FID:DEF:IND:IMP:
Halfpenny GEORGIVS V DEI GRA:BRITT:OMN:REX FID:DEF:IND:IMP:
Farthing GEORGIVS V D.G.BRITT:OMN:REX F.D.IND:IMP:


Meaning?

We get asked by e-mail about the meaning of coin inscriptions all the time. We do have translations of most on our British coins inscriptions page. Because many are abbreviated, you may need to search through the list intelligently, but we will give a detailed breakdown here of this particular inscription:- Translations

Abbreviation Word or Phrase Translation
GEORGIVS GEORGIUS George
V V 5, 5th, fifth or five
D.G. DEI GRATIA By the Grace of God
DEI DEI (of) God
GRA GRATIA (by the) Grace
BRITT OMN BRITANNIARUM OMNIUM of all the Britons
REX REX King
F.D. FIDEI DEFENSOR Defender of the Faith
FID FIDEI (of the) Faith
DEF DEFENSOR Defender
IND INDIAE (of) India
IMP IMPERATOR Emperor

Complete Legend

The complete legend (inscription) therefore translates as "George the Fifth, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britons, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India".

Obverse of 1935 Silver Jubilee Crown

Obverse of Gold Sovereign First Type 1911 to 1928

If you noticed that the Latin for George contains a V which we have changed into a U, please refer to our page specifically about coin inscriptions

If you want to find the value of a coin you own, please take a look at our page I've Found An Old Coin, What's It Worth?

Do you have an enquiry about our Coins? Get in touch on live chat or call 01253 343081

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