In the year AD 2007 a Latin inscription appeared on the reverse of a £5 crown struck by the Royal Mint to mark the Diamond Wedding Anniversary of H M Queen Elizabeth II. This is reproduced on the jacket and title page of this book.
How many know what it means and whether, and if so for what purpose, it has been used before? How many don’t know the meaning of the short Latin grace benedictus benedicat, do know that the emperor Justinian first made Christmas Day a public holiday, that Britain had her very own emperor for some eight years circa AD 294, that a personalised Britannia first appeared on coinage of this island under the emperor Hadrian nearly two thousand years ago, looking very much as we see her today on 50p pieces?
This book contains Latin for today (2007) in a series of words, phrases and quotations set out under diverse headings in the translation of, and commentary to which, all the above mentioned and much more will be found.
A fund of Latin-based information shows how relevant is Latin today. Given a little attention, it can generate great interest and be great fun for those with some knowledge of the language and for those without. Try and translate Obile heres ago fortibus es in ero. You will not succeed!
Lege feliciter. ‘read happily’. The Veneable Bede. A good motto!
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