This document provides a case study on identifying Roman imperial coins. It examines an obverse with the legend "THEODO" and titles, and a reverse with the inscription "VOT X MVLT XX". Analysis of mint marks and coin design indicate it was minted for Theodosius I in Cyzicus between 389-395 AD, during his 10th acclamation. The document also lists common titles and mint abbreviations found on Roman imperial coins to aid in identification.

1. ROMAN IMPERIAL COINS
A CASE STUDY ON HOW TO IDENTIFY THEM
Gustavo Trapp
June 18th, 2012

2. EXAMPLE
Coin found in Sanisera in 2011
Obverse side Reverse side

3. OBVERSE
TITLES
AVG. Augustus or Augusta
ARM. Armeniacus (conqueror of Armenia).
BRIT. Britanicus (conqueror of Britian.
CAESAR, CAES. Heir to the throne.
CENS. or CENS. PER. Censor Perpetuus
COS. or C. Consul
DAC. Dacicus (conqueror or Dacia).
DIVI, DIVO or DIVA Divine (acclaimed a deity).
D.N. Dominus Noster ('Our Lord').
F. or FIL. or FILI Filius or Filia
GERM. Germanicus (conqueror of Germany).
IMP. Imperator (supreme army commander).
IMP. C. Imperator Caesar.
NOB. Nobilissimus or Nobilissima (noble).
N. C., NOB. CAES. Nobilitas Caesar ("Royal Heir").
OPTIMO or
OPTIMO PRINCIPI Best ruler.
PART. Parthicus (conqueror of Parthia).
PERP. Perpetuatae (forever or for life).
P. F. Pius Felix (dutiful and wise).
P. M., PON. M. Pontifex Maximus.
P. P. Pater Patriae (father of the country).
PRINC. IVVENT. Princeps Iuventis (young prince)
Type
Legend Figure of the emperor or
Name & Titles empress

4. OBVERSE LEGEND
?????ODO
NT E ?
Theodora
Check the roman emperor's list, e.g.:
Theodosius I
http://wildwinds.com/coins/ric/i.html
Theodosius II

5. CANDIDATES
Theodosius I - last emperor to rule
both western and eastern halves of
the roman empire, from 379 to 395
AD
Theodosius II - Byzantine emperor,
408 to 450 AD
Theodora - Roman empress, second
wife of Constantius I, 337to 340 AD
(but has a different hair style)

6. REVERSE
No Inscription
VOT
Reverse Design: X
MVLT
XX
Exergue: SHKΓ or SMKΓ

7. EXEGUER
Minting house abbreviation
Last letter: Officinae (workshop)
roman letter - western mint
greek letter - eastern mint
SMK - Cyzicus, Turkey
SHKΓ
294-491AD
or
SMKΓ
3rd workshop

8. DESIGN
VOT
X
MVLT
XX
Votis
Decennalibus Vows for 10 years reign,
Multis wishing for 10 additional
Vicennalibus
Could not find this design on coins from Theodosius II

9. EXAMPLES

10. CONCLUSION
• Coin is probably from Theodosius I (379-395 AD)
• Full legend is DN THEODO [SIVS PF AVG]
• Dominus Noster THEODOSIUS Pius Felix Augustus
• Our Lord THEODOSIUS Dutiful & Wise Augustus
• Minted in Cyzicus
• Officinae #3
• Between 389 and 395 AD

11. BIBLIOGRAPHY
• Reading and Cataloguing Roman coins -
http://coins.calkinsc.com/old_site/rcrc/rcrc.html
• Virtual Catalog of Roman Coins - http://vcrc.austincollege.edu/
• Portable Antiques Scheme - http://finds.org.uk/romancoins
• List of Roman Mints: http://www.time-lines.co.uk/glossary-of-ancient-
roman-coin-mintmarks-3042-0.html
• NumisWiki - http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/
• Abreviaturas numismática romana -
http://www.tesorillo.com/roma/abreviaturas_af.htm
• Wildwinds - http://wildwinds.com/coins/ric/i.html
• Cyzicus - http://www.numisology.com/Cyzicus.htm