coin of the realm
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coin of the realm
- /ˈkɔɪn əv ðə ˈɹɛlm/ US, UK
Rhymes with -ɛlm
Where it comes from
The term originally referred to actual coins issued by authority of the British monarch for use within the kingdom or realm: see, for example, the 18th-century quotations.
noun
-
The legal money of a country.
[I]t was thought expedient by ſtatute 1 Mar. ſt. 2. c. 6. to revive ſpecies thereof; viz. 1. That if any perſon falſely forge or counterfeit any ſuch kind of coin of gold or ſilver, as is not the proper coin of this realm, [...] ſuch offences ſhall be deemed high treaſon.
Similar: legal tender
- Something that is valued like money within a particular context. As trust in government declines, it becomes more and more difficult to make effective use of state power. For nonprofit and voluntary organizations, these issues do not arise. Free choice is the coin of the realm: Donors give because they choose to do so. Volunteers work of their own volition.
Translations
Every language
noun something valued like money within a particular context
| Français | monnaie d'échange |
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Talk about this word "coin of the realm." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/coin%20of%20the%20realm. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026. coin of the realm. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 7, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/coin%20of%20the%20realm "coin of the realm." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 7, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/coin%20of%20the%20realm.Cite this
@misc{coin_of_the_realm_2026,
title = {coin of the realm},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/coin%20of%20the%20realm},
urldate = {2026-11-07}
}
