Legends on Roman Coins

Here is a silver coin (denarius) of Caracalla, Roman emperor 198-217 AD.
Caracalla Obverse legend: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT
The legend gives the Roman name he used (beginning at 6:00).
  • ANTONINUS PIVS = Antoninus Pius (There were four emperors who used this name. We call him by his nickname, Caracalla)

    • It gives two of his titles
  • AVG = Augustus = emperor
  • BRIT = Britannicus = conqueror of the Britains


    •  The reverse legend has more titles.
    Caracalla The reverse reads: PM TRP XVI COS IIII PP

  • PM = Pontifex Maximus = high priest
  • TR P = power of the tribune
  • XVI = 16 (in Roman numerals), meaning it was now the 16th time he had that power, that is, the 16th year of his reign. Year 1 = 198 AD, so year 16 = 213 AD.
  • COS = Consul, a high Roman office
  • IIII = 4 in Roman numerals, meaning he had held the office of consul four times.
  • P P = Pater Patriae = father of his country (like George Washington).


    •  The type is Liberty holding a (triangular) cap of liberty and a sceptre. It probably refers to Caracalla's granting of Roman citizenship to all inhabitants of the Empire.

    The Roman emperor Septimius Severus, 193-211 A.D, on a common silver coin (a denarius) the size of a dime struck, 201 AD.
    Severus The legend reads "SEVERVS AVG PART MAX"
    (beginning at 6:30 on the coin, and without spaces to conveniently separate words).
    It gives part of his name,

  • SEVERVS (They used a "V" for our "U"), and three of his titles:
  • "AVG" abbreviates "Augustus", the Roman term for "emperor". [again, a "V" for our "U"].
  • "PART" abbreviates "Parthicus" (conqueror of the Parthians, who ruled in what is now Iraq and Iran).
  • "MAX" abbreviates "Maximus" (the greatest).


    •  The reverse has a legend too.
    Severus reverse It reads "RESTITVTOR VRBIS".

  • RESTITVTOR = Restorer
  • VRBIS = City [again note the use of "V" for "U"] "Urb" is seen in English words for city like "urban" and "suburb."

    • So the reverse legend is "Restorer of the city (Rome)."
    The picture shows the emperor in military gear at a religious sacrifice, pouring from a bowl over a sacred fire in a tripod. His spear is reversed (point down) to symbolize the peace resulting from his victories. The legend to his restoring of the city (Rome), presumably by building and repairing buildings. 

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