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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Bart9349, post: 1857920, member: 5682&quot;]Obviously, anyone who studies ancient Roman coins quickly realizes the importance of knowing at least the most basic Latin when reading coin inscriptions.</p><p><br /></p><p>I wrote a thread a few years back about the usefulness of knowing Latin when deciphering the RSR in the exergue of the Carausius coin, for example:</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://www.cointalk.com/threads/carausius-and-rsr-in-the-exergue.191528/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.cointalk.com/threads/carausius-and-rsr-in-the-exergue.191528/">http://www.cointalk.com/threads/carausius-and-rsr-in-the-exergue.191528/</a></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]311707[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]311708[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>(Not my coins)</p><p><br /></p><p>Surprisingly at times, however, it is just as important to know Latin when studying more modern commemorative medals. Here&#039;s a Jacobite medal from the early 1700s:</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://www.cointalk.com/threads/something-for-jacobites-and-early-brit-fans.228675/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.cointalk.com/threads/something-for-jacobites-and-early-brit-fans.228675/">http://www.cointalk.com/threads/something-for-jacobites-and-early-brit-fans.228675/</a></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]311709[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]311710[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>(Yep, mine)</p><p><br /></p><p>These are a few of the many numismatic examples (as well as countless references found in ancient Roman and more modern literature and scholarship) that have inspired me to improve my grasp of Latin.</p><p><br /></p><p>Learning a language offers deeper insight and understanding of any culture. For example, I am always amazed that the one word “bella” has two very surprisingly different meanings in Latin: beautiful and wars. I think this example gives an insight into a rich but militaristic culture where one word could mean such shockingly different things.</p><p><br /></p><p>My question: Latin is no longer routinely taught in schools. What proficiency in Latin do others have at this site? I am working hard in learning basic conjugations of verbs and declensions of nouns and adjectives in Latin. Unfortunately, my old brain has ossified and the learning comes slowly. Anyone else have experience, opinion, or advice with this daunting task and how it relates to the study of numismatics?</p><p><br /></p><p>guy[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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