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Praenomen



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Praenomen.  The first name of the three by which each Roman citizen was called, took its place before the nomen gentilicium, or family name for the sake of distinction, that they might be known from others who were of the same and honorable race.  Of these the prenomina some are derived from the Roman people while others more frequently from neighboring nations.
   Praenomina, for the sake of brevity, were accustomed to be written, some with a single letter only, others with two, other with three letters.  Thus the following are designated on coins by one letter only: A. Aulus, C. Caius, D. Decimus, K. Caso, L. Lucius, M. Manius or Marcus, N. Numerius, P. Publius, Q. Quintus, T. Titus.  In like manner with two letters: AP. Appius, CN. Cnaeus, OP. Opiter (according to Sigonius), SP. Spurius, TI. Tiberius.  Lastly with three letters: MAM. Mamercus, MAN. Manius, SER. Servius, SEX. Sextus and TVL. Tullus.


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Praenomen



Please |help| us convert the |Dictionary of Roman Coins| from scans to text by typing the original text here. Please add updates or make corrections to the NumisWiki text version as appropriate.


Praenomen.  The first name of the three by which each Roman citizen was called, took its place before the nomen gentilicium, or family name for the sake of distinction, that they might be known from others who were of the same and honorable race.  Of these the prenomina some are derived from the Roman people while others more frequently from neighboring nations.
   Praenomina, for the sake of brevity, were accustomed to be written, some with a single letter only, others with two, other with three letters.  Thus the following are designated on coins by one letter only: A. Aulus, C. Caius, D. Decimus, K. Caso, L. Lucius, M. Manius or Marcus, N. Numerius, P. Publius, Q. Quintus, T. Titus.  In like manner with two letters: AP. Appius, CN. Cnaeus, OP. Opiter (according to Sigonius), SP. Spurius, TI. Tiberius.  Lastly with three letters: MAM. Mamercus, MAN. Manius, SER. Servius, SEX. Sextus and TVL. Tullus.
   That in the earliest times of Rome, praenomina occupied the place of a proper name, there are sufficient examples to be found as well as on coins as in ancient authors.  This is abundantly shown in the instances of the Kings Numa, Tullus, Ancus and Servius.  In like manner the same usage prevails among the Roman families which for the most part want the cognomen. (Spanheim, Pr. ii, P. 23, sq.)

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