Translation of legends
The following is a list of the principal Latin legends which appear on the hammered coinage of England. The legend is given with its translation and the coins on which the legend appears.
Legend:
A DOMINO FACTUM EST ISTUD ET EST MIRABILE IN OCULIS NOSTRIS
Translation: ‘This is the Lord’s doing and it is marvellous in our eyes’ Psalm 118.23
Coin type: Sovereigns of Mary
Legend:
AMOR POPULI PRAESIDIUM REGIS
Translation: The love of the people is the King’s protection
Coin type: Angels of King Charles I
Legend:
CHRISTO AUSPICE REGNO
Translation: I reign under the auspice of Christ
Coin type: Charles I
Legend:
CULTORES SUI DEUS PROTEGIT
Translation: God protects His worshippers
Coin type: Charles I gold double crowns and crowns
Legend:
DOMINE NE IN FURORE TUO ARGUAS M
Translation: ‘O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger’ Psalm 6, 1.
Coin type: Edward III half-florin/half nobles
Legend:
DUM SPIRO SPERO
Translation: Whilst I live, I hope
Coin type: Coins struck at Pontefract Castle during the civil war
Legend:
EXALTABITUR IN GLORIA
Translation: He shall be exalted in glory
Coin type: All quarter-nobles
Legend:
EXURGAT DEUS ET DISSIPENTUR INIMICI EIUS
Translation: ‘Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered’ Psalm 68, 1.
Coin type: James I early English coins. Charles I.
Legend:
FACIAM EOS IN GENTUM UNAM
Translation: ‘I will make them one nation’ Ezekiel 37, 22.
Coin type: James I Unite’s and Laurel’s
Legend:
FLORENT CONCORDIA REGNA
Translation: ‘Through concord kingdoms flourish’
Coin type: Charles I gold unite & Charles II broad
Legend:
HENRICUS ROSAS REGNA JACOBUS
Translation: ‘Henry united the roses, James the kingdoms’
Coin type: James I gold coins
Legend:
JESUS AUTEM TRANSIENS PER MEDIUM ILLORUM IBAT
Translation: ‘But Jesus, passing through the midst of them, went his way’ Luke iv. 30.
Coin type: Reverse of noble’s, ryal’s and sovereign’s before James I
Legend:
JUSTITIA THRONUM FIRMAT
Translation: Justice strengthens the Throne
Coin type: Charles I halfgroats/pennies
Legend:
MIRABILIA FECIT
Translation: He made marvellously
Coin type: Viking coins from possibly York
Legend:
O CRUX AVE SPES UNICA
Translation: Hail. O Cross, our only hope
Coin type: Reverse of all half angels
Legend:
PER CRUCEM TUAM SALVA NOS CHRISTE REDEMPTOR
Translation: By thy cross, save us, O Christ, our redeemer
Coin type: Reverse of Angels
Legend:
POST MORTEM PATRIS PRO FILIO
Translation: After the death of the father for the son
Coin type: Siege pieces from Pontefract castle for Charles II
Legend:
POSUI DEUM ADJUTOREM MEUM
Translation: ‘I have made God my helper’ Psalm 54, 4.
Coin type: Silver coins from Edward III to 1603
Legend:
QUĈ DEUS CONJUNXIT NEMO SEPARET
Translation: What God hath joined together let no man put asunder Matthew 19, 6.
Coin type: Large silver coins of James I
Legend:
RELIGIO PROTESTANTIUM LEGES ANGLIĈ LIBERTAS PARLIAMENTI
Translation: The religion of the Protestants, the laws of England, the liberty of the Parliament
Coin type: Charles I provincial mints/ Gold coins of Henry VIII
Legend:
RUTILANS ROSA SINE SPINA
Translation: A dazzling rose without a thorn
Coin type: As above but on small gold
Legend:
SCUTUM FIDEI PROTEGET EUM/EAM
Translation: The shield of faith shall protect him/her
Coin type: Edward VI & Elizabeth I gold
Legend:
TALI DICATA SIGNO MENS FLUCTUARI NEQUIT
Translation: ‘Consecrated by such a sign the mind cannot waver’ 4th century hymn by Prudentius.
Coin type: Henry VIII gold George noble
Legend:
TIMOR DOMINI FONS VITÆ
Translation: ‘The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life’ Proverbs 14, 27.
Coin type: Edward VI shillings
Legend:
TVAETUR UNITA DEUS
Translation: ‘May God guard these united’
Coin type: James I
Legend:
VERITAS TEMPORIS FILIA
Translation: ‘Truth, the daughter of time’
Coin type: Mary Tudor
