Officina Numbers on Late Roman Coins
This web page illustrates an unusual method of identifying the officina number on late Roman coins--spelling it out in full: PRIMA, SECVNDA, TERTIA, QVARTA. (Skip down to that method.)
What is an Officina? A mint officina is a workshop -- a division of a mint ("officinae" is plural, "officina" singular). Roman mints were organized into parallel and non-overlapping workshops during the Republic and empire, but explicit indication of the officina number did not appear on coins until the third century AD and it is rare until the middle of the century. Before then, when Rome was the only mint, there was no reason to name the mint on coins because it could only be Rome. Under Gallienus (253-268) mints proliferated and mint marks to indicate mints began to appear. "M" for Milan (Mediolanum) was among the first. "SERD" for Serdica (modern Sophia, the capital of Bulgaria) was, under Aurelian (270-275) the first mint mark to spell out much of the mint name [coin to the right]. However, even as late as Aurelian the mint name is rarely explicit. However, officina numbers are frequently, but not always, indicated on coins of Aurelian.
What's new? 2024, Dec. 3: Julian II with "OFF" in the mintmark.
2023, April 15: Larger images and new QVARTA for Valens.
It is first during the tetrarchy (which began under Diocletian, 284-305) that most Roman coins indicate their mint city, and when they do they usually also indicate the workshop within the mint. This is usually accomplished by attaching a Greek or Roman numeral to the mint mark in the exergue (the part below the low horizontal line on which the reverse type stands). Sometimes Roman numerals were used: I, II, III, IIII, V, VI. (By the way, IIII is typical for 4, not IV.)
The next coin has "VI" for "6".
Diocletian, 284-305.
IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS PF AVG
22-21 mm. Antoninianus
MARS VICTOR,
Mars advancing right with spear and trophy
Mint mark: VI XXI T
where the "T" is for Ticinum, the mint,
the "XXI" identifies the denomination
and the "VI" is 6, the officina number.
Another, uncommon, methods of indicating the officina number was with dots. Some coins from Antioch have up to four dots below the obverse bust indicating officinae 1 through 4 and then Roman numerals for 5 through 7.
Trebonianus Gallus, 251-253
24-22 mm. 12:00. 4.11 grams.
IMP C C VIB TREB GALLUS PF AVG
His bust right with 4 dots below (the fourth is weak and joins the drapery)
SAECVLLVM NOVVM
temple of six columns, figure (Roma?) in center
four dots below
Antioch mint, fourth officina.
The Unusual Method used only at the Rome Mint
Mintmark RPRIMA (Rome, Prima) for the first officina at Rome.
Valens, co-emperor AD 365-378.
DN VALENS PF AVG
SECVRITAS REPVBLICAE, Victory advanced left with wreath and palm.
Rome was the only mint to spell out the officina number, but many coins from Rome, even of these types, do not use that system. Another way to indicate officina used at Rome was to use P for Prima = first, B for second (although we might expect S for Secunda = second), T for Tertia = third, and Q for Quarta = forth.
Gratian, 367-383
Rome mint.
DN GRATIA-NVS PF AVG
The second type above:
SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAS
Mint mark: SM <symbol> RP
where the symbol is heart or leaf shape.
"SM" is for "Sacra Moneta", "sacred mint"
"R" for "Rome" and "P" for Prima, first.
Related links:
Another unusual way to indicate the officinae. "Officina mintmarks of the Roman emperors Diocletian and Maximiman at Siscia (289-290 AD)"
Roman mints and a one coin illustrating one mark from each mint (not about officinae). "The Roman Numismatic Gallery"
Roman mints and all their basic marks (not about officinae): "Roman Mints"
Revised, Jan. 8, 2022. April 15, 2023. Dec. 3, 2024.
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