Roman Coin Mint Marks: Identify the Mint from the Exergue
Mint mark: look in the exergue, the strip below the reverse design. Enter the letters exactly as seen.
A Roman mint mark is the short string in the exergue — the strip below the reverse design. Read it in three parts: an optional prefix (SM sacra moneta, M moneta), the mint-city abbreviation (TR Trier, SIS Siscia, ANT Antioch, K Cyzicus), and an officina (workshop) letter — Latin P S T Q in the West, Greek Α Β Γ Δ in the East. Coins struck before Diocletian's reforms (c. 294 AD) usually carry no mint mark and are attributed by style.
Where to look: the exergue
The mint mark sits in the exergue — the strip below the reverse design, under the ground line. Read it left to right as prefix, mint city, then officina.
The mark above reads left to right: prefix (SM, sacra moneta), mint city (K, Cyzicus), officina (Β, second workshop).
Every Roman mint and its marks
Type a mark in the decoder above to narrow this table, or browse all 23 mints below.
| Mint | Marks | Officina | Active |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlexandriaAlexandria, Egypt | SM · AL · ALE · ALEX | Greek (Α Β Γ…) | 294–476 AD |
| Amiens (Ambianum)Amiens, France | AMB · AMBI | Latin (P S T…) | 350–353 AD |
| AntiochAntakya, Türkiye | SM · AN · ANT · ANTOB | Greek (Α Β Γ…) | 294–476 AD |
| AquileiaAquileia, Italy | SM · AQ · AQVIL | Latin (P S T…) | 294–425 AD |
| Arles (Arelate)Arles, France | AR · ARL · CON · CONST · KON | Latin (P S T…) | 313–475 AD |
| Barcelona (Barcino)Barcelona, Spain | SM · BA | Latin (P S T…) | 409–411 AD |
| Carthage (Carthago)Carthage (near Tunis), Tunisia | K · KART | Latin (P S T…) | 296–307 AD |
| ConstantinopleIstanbul, Türkiye | CONS · CONSP · CP | Greek (Α Β Γ…) | 326–476 AD |
| CyzicusErdek, Türkiye | SM · M · K · KY · CVZ · CYZ | Greek (Α Β Γ…) | 260–475 AD |
| Heraclea (Thracica)Marmara Ereğlisi, Türkiye | SM · HT · HERAC · HERACL | Greek (Α Β Γ…) | 291–476 AD |
| London (Londinium)London, England | P · M · LN · LON · AVG · AVGOB | Latin (P S T…) | 296–388 AD |
| Lyon (Lugdunum)Lyon, France | P · LG · LVG · LVGD | Latin (P S T…) | 274–413 AD |
| Milan (Mediolanum)Milan, Italy | MD · MED · MDOB | Latin (P S T…) | 364–475 AD |
| Nicomediaİzmit, Türkiye | SM · M · N · NIC · NIK | Greek (Α Β Γ…) | 294–476 AD |
| OstiaOstia, Italy | M · P · OST | Latin (P S T…) | 308–313 AD |
| RavennaRavenna, Italy | RV · RAV | Latin (P S T…) | 404–476 AD |
| RomeRome, Italy | SM · R · RM · ROM · ROMA | Latin (P S T…) | 294–476 AD |
| SerdicaSofia, Bulgaria | SM · SD · SER · SERD | Greek (Α Β Γ…) | 272–314 AD |
| SirmiumSremska Mitrovica, Serbia | SIRM · SIR | Latin (P S T…) | 320–395 AD |
| SisciaSisak, Croatia | SIS · SISC | Latin (P S T…) | 262–387 AD |
| ThessalonicaThessaloniki, Greece | SM · TES · TS · THES | Greek (Α Β Γ…) | 298–476 AD |
| TicinumPavia, Italy | SM · T · TIC | Latin (P S T…) | 274–326 AD |
| Trier (Treveri)Trier, Germany | SM · TR · TRE | Latin (P S T…) | 294–430 AD |
Reading officina letters
Western mints number workshops with Latin letters: P prima (1), S secunda (2), T tertia (3), Q quarta (4). Eastern mints use Greek letters: Α 1, Β 2, Γ 3, Δ 4.
When and why mint marks began
Regular exergual marks appear from the mid-3rd century and were standardized under Diocletian's reforms around 293–294 AD, giving the state control over which mint and workshop struck each coin.
My coin has no mint mark
Coins struck before the late 3rd century usually carry no exergual mark. They are attributed by portrait style, fabric, and legend, cross-referenced with RIC. See how to identify Roman coins for the full method.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the mint mark on a Roman coin?
In the exergue — the strip below the main design on the reverse.
What do the letters SM and M mean?
SM stands for sacra moneta and M for moneta; they are prefixes marking the mark as an imperial mint signature.
What is an officina letter?
The officina is the workshop within a mint. Western mints number them with Latin letters (P, S, T, Q = 1st–4th); eastern mints use Greek letters (Α, Β, Γ, Δ).
When did Roman coins start having mint marks?
Regular exergual mint marks appear from the mid-3rd century and were standardized by Diocletian's reforms around 293–294 AD.
What if my coin has no mint mark?
Most coins before the late 3rd century carry no mint mark; the mint is attributed from portrait style, fabric, and legend, cross-referenced with RIC.
Have the coin in front of you? Identify it with catalog search.