£
Currency

British Coin Inscriptions in Alphabetical Order

Author: Ian Davis - Chief Operations Officer

Published: 27 Feb 2019

Last Updated: 26 Dec 2022

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.

This is One of the Easiest Inscriptions to Understand

The Famous "Declaration" of Charles I

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

George V Inscriptions

Read more articles on numismatic information, the gold sovereign, or our guides to buying gold or silver

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