Coin legends decoded: a quick review of a small, very useful tool

Dav
Aug 29
3 min read

What is a coin legend—and why should you care?

A coin’s legend is the ring of text stamped on it. It usually names the ruler, states a title, and sometimes slips in a place or motto. Older coins lean on Latin and heavy abbreviation, which is why even a tidy penny can read like a puzzle. Decoding that text is often the fastest route to a ruler and time-window. Museums lean on inscriptions for a reason—sometimes they’re the only written record we have for a name or claim. British Museum+1

What does the Coin Legend Identifier actually do?

You paste what you can read exactly as it appears on the coin. The tool:

expands common abbreviations into plain English,
copes with medieval spelling quirks (V/U, I/J, pellets),
suggests matches from partial fragments,
and produces a short, conservative Likely context note (e.g., “Anglo-Saxon name” or “Late Roman formula”).

It’s deliberately modest—it gives you a lane to investigate, not a grand pronouncement. That’s the right attitude for finds work.

Can it handle fragments and field conditions?

Yes. If you type XON, it proposes OXON (Oxford). POSV nudges you towards POSVI/POSUI. Unknown tokens get suggestions, not silence. This matters when the flan is clipped, corroded, or only half the circle is legible. You get momentum instead of a dead end.

Does it understand Roman and early English material?

It does. Pattern triggers like IMP … AVG (imperial formula) and DN … PF AVG (late Roman) light up as context cues; common reverse types such as GLORIA EXERCITVS and FEL TEMP REPARATIO are recognised as Constantinian/Constantius-era signposts. For early medieval England and the Anglo-Scandinavian period, stems such as AETHEL-, CNVT/CNVTVS, HARTHACNVT, WILLELM/PILLELM, and STEPHANVS now produce specific ruler windows. Pair that with a portrait or reverse and you can narrow very quickly in OCRE or EMC. isaw.nyu.edu +1emc.fitzmuseum.cam.ac .uk The Fitzwilliam Museum

Will it replace my books and databases?

No—and that’s the point. Think of it as a front door. It transforms raw letters into leads you can chase in proper references:

For Roman types and mints, OCRE is the serious catalogue. isaw.nyu.edu
For early medieval single finds, the EMC database is purpose-built. emc.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk
For general coin look-ups and crowd wisdom, Numista and WildWinds are practical and searchable. Numista+1 wildwinds.com+1
For British context and good practice, start with the Portable Antiquities Scheme at the British Museum. British Museum

Who is this for?

Detectorists who want quick, phone-friendly help converting muddy letters into meaningful English.
Collectors who’d like to learn what legends mean without memorising a Latin crib sheet.
FLOs and club officers who want a tidy first pass before checking a catalogue entry.

It’s particularly handy in the UK, where Roman and medieval small change turns up in real numbers, and where reporting finds through PAS is standard practice. GOV.UK

What are the limits?

It won’t identify a coin from a single letter or a guess. It doesn’t weigh, measure, or inspect the portrait for you. Treat the output as directional. Once you have a ruler/title/motto decoded, jump into a catalogue to confirm by type, mintmark, size, and weight. When in doubt, ask a specialist—start with your FLO or the British Museum’s Money & Medals team. British Museum

Bottom line

This is a small, focused tool that respects uncertainty and makes you faster. It won’t replace your references; it will get you to them with cleaner keywords and a clearer head—exactly what you want when history turns up on the end of a spade.

Where can I find it?

The Coin Legend Identifier is hosted by UK Detectorist here https://www.ukdetectorist.co.uk/coin-legend-identifier

Bibliography & further reading

Portable Antiquities Scheme (British Museum) – reporting guidance and background to UK finds. finds.org.uk

UK Detectorist