mintage: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Technical, Numismatic
Quick answer
What does “mintage” mean?
The coins produced at a mint during a particular period.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The coins produced at a mint during a particular period; the process of minting coins.
The design or inscription on a coin; the fee paid for minting coins; metaphorically, something newly produced or created, often in limited quantity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The term is equally technical in both varieties. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
In both, strongly associated with coin collecting (numismatics), finance, and history. Carries connotations of authority, official production, and sometimes collectible value.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in everyday language. Used almost exclusively in specialized contexts like coin collecting, economic history, or descriptive catalogues.
Grammar
How to Use “mintage” in a Sentence
the mintage of [coin/year/place]a mintage of [number]the total mintage for [year]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mintage” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The Royal Mint will mintage a new commemorative sovereign next year.
- They have not yet mintaged the proposed 2025 issue.
American English
- The US Mint is scheduled to mintage the new quarter design in January.
- The law authorises the Treasury to mintage special anniversary coins.
adverb
British English
- The coins were struck mintage-ly and distributed.
- The dies were prepared mintage-ly for the new series.
American English
- The facility operates mintage-ly, producing billions of coins annually.
- The design was approved mintage-ly by the commission.
adjective
British English
- The mintage process is highly secure.
- We examined the mintage records from the 18th century.
American English
- The mintage fee for bullion coins is set by Congress.
- A mintage error made this penny valuable.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in financial contexts discussing bullion, commemorative coins, or the economics of currency production.
Academic
Common in economic history, archaeology, and numismatic research papers.
Everyday
Virtually unused. Might appear in a hobbyist conversation about coin collecting.
Technical
Standard term in numismatics for describing the quantity and characteristics of coins produced.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mintage”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mintage”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mintage”
- Using 'mintage' to refer to a single coin (incorrect: 'This is a rare mintage'; correct: 'This coin is from a rare mintage').
- Confusing 'mintage' (noun) with 'to mint' (verb).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A 'coin' is a single piece. 'Mintage' refers to all the coins produced in a batch, series, or period, or to the process of making them.
The standard verb is 'to mint'. Using 'mintage' as a verb ('to mintage') is non-standard and considered incorrect by most authorities, though it appears occasionally in technical jargon.
It is the official number of coins of a specific type that were produced. This is a key piece of data for coin collectors and historians.
No, it is a low-frequency, specialised term. You will encounter it primarily in contexts related to coin collecting (numismatics), finance, or economic history.
The coins produced at a mint during a particular period.
Mintage is usually formal, technical, numismatic in register.
Mintage: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɪntɪdʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɪntɪdʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[rare] Of the latest mintage (meaning very new or recent).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of MINT + AGE. The 'MINT' produces coins, and the 'AGE' refers to a period. So, mintage is the coins produced by a mint in a specific period.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRODUCTION IS MINTING (e.g., 'the mintage of new ideas').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'mintage' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?