numismatic

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The Word of the Day for June 5 is:

numismatic   \noo-miz-MAT-ik\   adjective
    *1 : of or relating to the study or collection of coins, tokens, and money 
     2 : of or relating to currency : monetary

Example sentence: 
     Jason was disappointed to learn that the 1936 buffalo nickel he owned had 
virtually no numismatic value.

Did you know? 
     The first metal coins are believed to have been used as currency by the 
Lydians, a people of Asia Minor, during the 7th century BC, 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 
"usage"). From these roots we also get "numismatist," referring to a person who 
collects coins, medals, or paper money.

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.





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