Decus et tutamen
“An ornament and a safeguard.”
Virgil, Aeneid 5.262
What does “Decus et tutamen” mean?
Decus et tutamen translates as “An ornament and a safeguard.”
Something that is both beautiful and protective.
“Decus et tutamen” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Decus | an ornament, a glory, a mark of honour | nominative singular neuter of decus, decoris, “grace, glory, ornament”; the subject-form noun |
| et | and | conjunction joining the two nouns |
| tutamen | a safeguard, a means of protection | nominative singular neuter of tutamen, tutaminis, “protection, defence”; formed from the verb tueor, “to guard” |
How to pronounce “Decus et tutamen”
The two pronunciations sound the same here, since there is no c before e or i. Stress the first syllable of decus and the second of tutamen.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “an ornament and a safeguard”, one thing doing two jobs: looking fine and keeping its owner safe.
It comes from Virgil’s Aeneid (5.262), the Roman epic about Aeneas and the Trojans. In the funeral games of Book 5, a breastplate is given as a prize, and Virgil describes it as both a decus, an honour to wear, and a tutamen, a protection in battle.
In 1983 the words were chosen for the edge of the British one-pound coin. The lettering served as decoration and also made it obvious if anyone had clipped metal from the rim, so the coin’s own motto described what it did. The phrase has been used as a motto ever since.
How to use “Decus et tutamen”
A good fit for a motto, crest or engraving on an object that is meant to be both handsome and protective, such as armour-themed art, a shield design, a ring or a gift for someone strong and dependable. It also works as a caption for anything that combines beauty and safety.
- Latin
- Decus et tutamen
- English
- An ornament and a safeguard.
- Source
- Virgil, Aeneid 5.262
- Era
- Antiquity
- Theme
- Strength
Common mistakes
- The phrase is a pair of nouns with no verb, so “is” is understood. It does not mean “decorate and protect” as commands.
- Both words are neuter, so the endings do not change for a masculine or feminine owner. Do not alter them to match the person.
- It is often thought to be a coin’s own invention. The words come from Virgil and were adopted for the coin.
Questions about “Decus et tutamen”
What does “Decus et tutamen” mean literally?
“An ornament and a safeguard”: something that both adorns and protects.
Where is “Decus et tutamen” from?
From Virgil’s Aeneid, book 5, line 262, where it describes a breastplate given as a prize.
Why is “Decus et tutamen” on the British pound coin?
It was placed on the coin’s edge as a motto, and the lettering also helped reveal clipping, where metal was shaved from the rim.
How do you pronounce “Decus et tutamen”?
Classical and Church Latin sound the same here: DEH-koos et too-TAH-men.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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