Aequator monetae impressionem spectat sicut triumvir monetalis signum spectat.

The case endings tell you.

• Aequator is nominative singular, so it is the subject of the first clause.
• impressionem is accusative singular, so it is the direct object of spectat.
• triumvir monetalis is also nominative singular, so it is the subject of the second clause.
• signum is accusative singular here, so it is the direct object of the second spectat.

So the structure is:

• Aequator = subject
• monetae impressionem = object phrase
• spectat = verb

and then again:

• triumvir monetalis = subject
• signum = object
• spectat = verb

Monetae is most naturally genitive singular here: of the coin or of the mint/coinage, depending on the intended meaning.

It depends on impressionem, so the phrase means something like:

• impressionem monetae = the impression of the coin

Even though the word order is reversed here, Latin often does that:

• monetae impressionem = literally coin's impression or impression of the coin

A learner might first wonder whether monetae could be dative or nominative plural, since that form can mean several things. But in this sentence, the sense and syntax point to the genitive singular.

Because Latin spectare can take a direct object.

In English, we usually say look at something, with a preposition. In Latin, specto, spectare often works more like watch, observe, or look at directly:

• impressionem spectat = he looks at / examines the impression
• signum spectat = he looks at / examines the mark

So Latin does not need a separate word corresponding to English at here.

Because they belong to different declensions.

Both are accusative singular, but Latin nouns do not all form the accusative the same way.

• impressio, impressionis is a 3rd-declension feminine noun
  
  • accusative singular: impressionem
• signum, signi is a 2nd-declension neuter noun
  
  • accusative singular: signum

So they have the same grammatical job, but different endings because they come from different noun patterns.

Sicut means just as, as, or in the same way that.

It introduces a comparison between the first clause and the second clause:

• Aequator ... spectat
• sicut triumvir monetalis ... spectat

So the sentence is comparing one action with another. The idea is:

• X examines Y, just as Z examines W.

It is a very common Latin word for making this kind of comparison.

Yes, Latin could sometimes leave it out if the meaning were obvious, but repeating it is very natural and often clearer.

Here the repetition gives the sentence a neat parallel structure:

• impressionem spectat
• signum spectat

That makes the comparison feel balanced. Latin often likes this sort of symmetry, especially in formal or crafted sentences.

So the repeated spectat is not strange; it is actually stylistically tidy.

It is a title-like expression.

• triumvir literally means one of three men or member of a board of three
• monetalis means connected with minting, money, or the mint

So triumvir monetalis refers to a moneyer or a magistrate connected with coin production.

Grammatically:

• triumvir is the noun
• monetalis is an adjective modifying it

Both are nominative singular masculine, so they go together.

Yes. They come from the same word family.

• moneta = mint, coin, or money
• monetalis = of the mint, monetary, mint-related

So:

• monetae impressionem involves the noun moneta
• triumvir monetalis uses an adjective built from that same base

A learner should notice that this is not a coincidence: the sentence is using related vocabulary about coinage and minting.

Because classical Latin has no articles.

Latin normally does not have separate words for the, a, or an. Whether you translate a noun as definite or indefinite depends on context.

So:

• Aequator could be the examiner/assayer or an examiner/assayer
• signum could be the mark or a mark
• impressionem could be the impression or an impression

English must choose an article; Latin usually does not state one.

It could definitely be different.

Latin word order is more flexible than English because the endings show the grammatical roles. For example, the sentence could be rearranged without changing the basic meaning, as long as the forms stay the same.

Still, this order is useful because it is clear and balanced:

• subject + object phrase + verb
• sicut
• subject + object + verb

That gives the sentence a very readable comparative structure.

Spectat is:

• present tense
• 3rd person singular
• active voice
• indicative mood

It comes from specto, spectare.

So each spectat means he/she/it looks at, examines, or is looking at, depending on context.

Because both subjects are singular:

• Aequator → spectat
• triumvir monetalis → spectat

the verb stays singular in both clauses.