Recoin

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To exchange or convert coins for new ones, often of different value or design; to re-mint or reissue currency; to reshuffle or reorganize monetary units within a system
2. The act of replacing old or worn coins with newly minted ones; to alter the form or composition of coinage; to adjust or recalibrate currency values via re-minting
3. Converting existing coins into a new form through minting; renewing or restoring currency by issuing fresh coinage; restructuring money supply by replacing coins in circulation

Etymology: "Recoin" is about as transparent as English compounds get: the prefix "re-", meaning "again" or "anew", attached to "coin". Its sense is the literal one, to mint new coins, and the word follows the same pattern as "remint", "reissue" and "refashion", where the prefix adds the idea of doing something over. The interesting part is the word's underlying object. "Coin" itself came into English from Old French "coigne", a die or stamping tool, so the verb "to coin" originally meant to stamp metal with a die. A coin was the thing struck by the die, and "recoin" simply repeats that stamping. Because the base is so old and common, the compound needed no special coinage, and it is used mostly when coins are restruck, either to replace worn currency or to change a currency's design or denomination.

Synonyms: remint, re-mint