Restrike

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To produce a new print or copy from an original plate or mold; to hit or strike again in a repeated action; to issue a second version or edition of a printed work
2. To create another impression from a printing plate; to perform another blow or impact; to reissue or reproduce a publication or item
3. To generate an additional print from existing materials; to deliver an additional strike or hit; to replicate or reproduce a previous edition or print run

Etymology: The word "restrike" combines the prefix "re-" meaning "again" with the verb "strike," which has Old English origins as "strīcan," meaning "to stroke, strike, or touch lightly." The prefix "re-" entered English through Latin and Old French, carrying the sense of repetition or doing something anew. Thus, the base meaning of the term is to strike or impress again. This formation likely emerged in technical or artisan contexts, where an object bearing an impression, such as a coin, medal, or printing plate, would be struck a second time to enhance or renew the clarity of its design. The use as a verb, "to restrike," would have been natural in minting or printing industries from at least the 18th century, when coin collecting and medal making flourished and required precise terminology for such processes. As a noun, it refers to the item produced by this second striking—often a coin or medal that has been re-impressed to restore or improve its original image. Collectors and numismatists adopted the term to distinguish these pieces from the original strikes, and the noun usage became common alongside the verb. Over time, the word retained its technical specificity but could also be used metaphorically to indicate repeating an effort or action with renewed force or intention. Its straightforward construction from a familiar prefix and root verb kept it transparent and adaptable in English.

Synonyms: reimpress, reengrave, recast, remint