Please add updates or make corrections to the NumisWiki text version as appropriate.
Officina montetae, a mint workshop.
Officinatores monetae, inspectors of the mint.
Inscriptions on ancient marbles collected by Grunter and others have preserved the appellations given to the respective workmen employed in different parts of the coinage. Among these are found the following denominations: Monetarii; Officinatores monetae aurariae, argentariae, Caesaris; Numularii officinarum argentiarum; Familiae monetariae; Numularii; Officinatores monetae; Exactores auri, argento, aeris; Signatores; Suppostores; Malleatores; Flatores.
Under the reign of Probus, or thereabouts, the mints began to indicate on the coinage the officinae, in which each coin was struck. This was done by Greek and Latin letters and numerals, engraved either in the field of the coin or in the exergue. Of this sort are the following:-
ANTP. Antiochiae Prima. - Struck at Antioch, first officina.
ANTS. Antiochiae Seconda - Struck at Antioch, second officina.
AQPS. Aquileiae Pecunia Seconda. - Coined at Aquileia, second officina
CONOB. otherwise CONOB Constantinopoli obryzum. The solidus weighed 1/72 of the Roman pound. "OB" was both an abbreviation for the word obryzum, which means refined or pure gold, and is the Greek numeral 72. Thus the exergue CONOB coin may be read "Constantinople, 1/72 pound pure gold." -- "Byzantine Coinage" by Philip Grierson
LVGPS. Lugduni Pecunia Signata. - Money coined at Lyons.
PTR. Percussa Treveris - (Treves)
SISCPZ. Scisciae Percussa in officina Septima.
SMA. Sacra Moneta Antiochiae - or SMAB. Sacra Moneta Antiochiae in officina Secunda.
SMSISE. Sacra Moneta Sisciae in officina Quinta.
The following inscription on a coin of Mauricius edited by Banduri and Ducange, in which the debated syllables are drawn out at length, favours the above interpretations - vi., VIENNA DE OFFICINA LAVRENTI.