Welcome to the Roman Coin Decoder
Use this tool to decode Latin legends found on Roman coins. Enter the text from the obverse (portrait side) and/or reverse (type side) of your coin to identify the emperor, dating elements, and symbolic meanings.
Tip: Start with the clearest letters you can read. Even partial legends can help identify the coin!
Decode Legend
Note: The decoder uses fuzzy matching and confidence scoring to help identify emperors even with partial or slightly misspelled text.
Common Abbreviations Reference
Imperial Titles
- IMP — Imperator (Emperor/Military Commander)
- CAES — Caesar (Imperial title)
- AVG — Augustus (Supreme/Revered)
- PM — Pontifex Maximus (Chief Priest)
Victory Titles
- GER — Germanicus (Conqueror of Germans)
- DAC — Dacicus (Conqueror of Dacia)
- PART — Parthicus (Conqueror of Parthia)
- BRIT — Britannicus (Conqueror of Britain)
Dating Elements
- COS — Consul (office + numeral)
- TR P — Tribunicia Potestas (annual power)
- PP — Pater Patriae (Father of Fatherland)
- I, II, III... — Roman numerals (counts)
Common Virtues
- PAX — Peace
- VICTORIA — Victory
- CONCORDIA — Harmony
- FELICITAS — Prosperity/Good Fortune
Emperor Periods Covered
Julio-Claudian (27 BC - 68 AD)
Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero
Nerva-Antonine (96 - 180 AD)
Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius, Commodus
Civil War & Transition (193 AD)
Pertinax, Didius Julianus, Septimius Severus
Future Phases: Additional dynasties including Flavian (69-96 AD), Severan (193-235 AD), Crisis Period (235-284 AD), and Late Imperial will be added soon.
Features
- ✓ Emperor Identification: Automatic matching with fuzzy matching and confidence scoring
- ✓ Token Breakdown: See each abbreviation, title, and numeral decoded
- ✓ Historical Context: Learn about reign periods, attested elements, and notes
- ✓ Reverse Type Recognition: Identify virtues and iconography on coin reverses
- ✓ Expandable Database: Add custom entries via the Admin panel (localStorage)
Admin Tools
Want to add custom coin data or manage the database?
Go to Admin Panel →