numismatic
adjective
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The first metal coins are believed to have been used as currency by the Lydians, a people of Asia Minor, during the 7th century B.C.E., and it is likely that folks began collecting coins not long after that. The name that we give to the collection of coins today is numismatics, a word that also encompasses the collection of paper money and of medals. The noun numismatics and the adjective numismatic came to English (via French numismatique) from Latin and Greek nomisma, meaning "coin." Nomisma in turn derives from the Greek verb nomizein ("to use") and ultimately from the noun nomos ("custom" or "law"). From these roots we also get numismatist, referring to a person who collects coins, medals, or paper money.
Examples of numismatic in a Sentence
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
Unlike dimes or quarters, many silver dollars carry collector (numismatic) value that can significantly exceed their melt value.
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Nick Perry,
USA Today,
6 Apr. 2026
In 1987, on the day after Thanksgiving, Friedmann appeared at the locked glass door of the Coin Purse, a numismatic shop in Nashville.
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James Verini,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
The government will continue to produce numismatic versions of the penny, or ones intended for collectors and historical purposes rather than regular circulation, in limited quantities.
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Connor Greene,
Time,
13 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for numismatic
Cite this Entry
“Numismatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/numismatic. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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