Editing Monogram (section)

==Royal monograms==
{{Main|Royal cypher}}
[[File:Signum manus of Charlemagne.svg|thumb|upright|{{Lang|la|Karolus}} – The cross-signature of [[Charlemagne]] ]]
''[[Signum manus]]'' (sometimes also known as ''Chrismon'') refers to the medieval practice, current from the [[Merovingian period]] until the 14th century in the [[Frankish Empire]] and its successors, of signing a document or charter with a special type of monogram or royal cypher.

Monograms of the names of [[monarch]]s are used as part of the insignia of public organizations in kingdoms, such as on police badges. This indicates a connection to the ruler. However, the [[royal cypher]], so familiar on [[pillar box]]es, is not technically a monogram, since the letters are not combined.

Royal monograms often appear on coins, frequently surmounted by a crown. Countries that have employed this device in the past include [[Bulgaria]], [[Great Britain]], [[Russia]], [[Sweden]] and many [[List of historic states of Germany|German states]]. Today, several [[Danish krone|Danish coins]] carry the monogram of [[Margrethe II of Denmark|Margrethe II]], while the current Norwegian 1 [[Norwegian krone|Krone coin]] has the "H5" monogram of [[Harald V of Norway|Harald V]] on the [[Obverse and reverse|obverse]].<ref>[http://www.norges-bank.no/templates/article____12369.aspx Coins] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203082931/http://www.norges-bank.no/templates/article____12369.aspx |date=2011-02-03 }}, at the [[Norges Bank]] website.</ref> The only countries using the [[Euro]] to have a royal monogram as their [[Identifying marks on euro coins|national identifying mark]] are [[Belgian euro coins|Belgium]] and [[Monegasque euro coins|Monaco]].<ref>A [[€2 commemorative coins|commemorative €2 coin]] from [[Luxembourgish euro coins|Luxembourg]] carried the monogram of [[Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg|Grand Duke Henri]].</ref> In Thailand, royal monograms appear on the individual flag for each major royal family member.