First attested in English 1829, the word numismatics comes from the adjective numismatic, meaning "of coins". It was borrowed in 1792 from French numismatiques, itself a derivation from Late Latin numismatis, genitive of numisma, a variant of nomisma meaning "coin".

Where does the word numismatist come from?

First attested in English 1829, the word numismatics comes from the adjective numismatic, meaning "of coins". It was borrowed in 1792 from French numismatiques, itself a derivation from Late Latin numismatis, genitive of numisma, a variant of nomisma meaning "coin".

What is the difference between numismatics and numismatist?

Numismatics is the study of coins and other currency units and is usually associated with the appraisal and collection of rare coins. Numismatists study the physical properties, production technology, and historical context of specimens of currency.