Numismatist

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /njuːˈmɪzmətɪst/

Definitions

1. An individual dedicated to the study and collection of coins and currency is known for their expertise in numismatics
2. A person who specializes in the analysis and accumulation of monetary items, including coins and banknotes, is typically referred to as an expert in numismatics
3. Someone who collects and examines various forms of currency, such as coins and paper money, is recognized as a specialist in numismatics

Etymology: The word "numismatist" is a plain formation: "numismatics" plus the agent suffix "-ist," which names a person who practises or specialises in something. The suffix has a long road into English. It began in Ancient Greek as "-istēs," attached to verbs to name the doer of an action, and passed through Latin "-ista" and Old French "-iste" before reaching Middle English, where it became a productive English ending for practitioners of a field. The base word, "numismatics," shows the same kind of build. It derives from the Greek "nomisma," meaning "coin" or "currency," which itself comes from "nomos," meaning "custom" or "law" in the sense of what is established or in use. So a numismatist is, at root, a specialist in the things a community agreed to treat as money.

Synonyms: coin collector, currency expert