coin of the realm
/ˈkɔɪn əv ðə ˈɹɛlm/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.82 in modern English
24
Scrabble Score
14
Letters
1
Syllables
12
Unique Chars
Meaning
Example Sentences
- "[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."
- "The late Proclamation for regulating the Gold Coin refers to the Reſolution or Order of the Lords of the Treaſury, dated July 24, 1773; [...] [T]he third Claſs in the above Table is ultimately to be the only ſtandard Gold Coin of the Realm."
- "In the year 1819, Sir Robert Peel brought in a bill, and which finally passed both houses, and received the royal assent on the 2nd July, for continuing the restrictions contained in several acts of parliament, on payments in cash by the bank of England, until the 1st day of May, 1823, and to provide for the gradual resumption of cash payments: [...] VIII. After the first day of May, 1822, the bank of England, if they shall think fit, may pay or exchange the lawful coin of the realm, for any of their own notes, payable on demand."
- "Upon an indictment under the statute, it must be proved that the coin was counterfeit, in the same manner as in cases of counterfeiting the coin of the realm, [...]"
- "An American traveler, let us say, lands at Calais with a pocket full of American money; his purse may fairly bulge. But he cannot buy so much as a newspaper or a breakfast roll with it. As far as his ability to purchase the very necessities of life is concerned, he might as well be penniless. His American money is worthless to him on that other shore until he has exchanged it for the coin of the realm."
- "My boats were thereupon accepted, and coin of the realm was handed me."
Etymology
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.
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈkɔɪn əv ðə ˈɹɛlm/
- British English: /ˈkɔɪn əv ðə ˈɹɛlm/