numisma

Meaning

Noun

• In modern usage, money or currency; rarely, coinage, especially as a means to control a monetary system (i.e., as coinage can mean a monetary system). Archaically, a byzant (specific gold coin). In ancient use, the current coin of a state.

Origin

• From Late Latin numisma, numismatis, variant of Latin nomisma, from Ancient Greek νόμισμα, for current money, coin, usage, lit. "what has been sanctioned by custom or use," from νομίζω, itself from νόμος. Related to French numismatique. See numismatic and nomisma.