specie

/'spi:ʃi:/

Thân thiện

A merchant carefully counts a pile of gold specie on the counter.

Definition

Noun (uncountable): 1. Coins collectively; money in the form of coins, especially as opposed to paper money. This term refers to physical, minted currency. 2. (Finance/Commerce) Payment in the actual, specified kind, especially in coin or bullion, rather than in a substitute or equivalent.

Usage

The word "specie" is a formal and somewhat archaic term, primarily used in financial, historical, and economic contexts. It is not commonly used in everyday conversation. It is often used in the phrase "in specie."

Examples: * The 19th-century economy relied heavily on specie for international trade. * The contract stipulated that the debt must be repaid in specie, not with banknotes. * During the crisis, people hoarded gold and silver specie.

Advanced Usage

• In specie: This is the most common modern usage. It means payment or delivery in the exact, specified form, often coin or bullion, but it can extend to other contexts (e.g., delivering a specific asset rather than its cash value).
  • The court ordered the painting to be returned in specie to its rightful owner.
• Specie payments: A historical term referring to the redemption of paper money for gold or silver coin upon demand.

Variants and Related Words

• Species (noun): A distinct biological classification (e.g., a plant or animal species). CRITICAL NOTE: "Specie" and "species" are different words. "Specie" is always singular and refers to money. "Species" can be singular or plural and refers to a biological kind.
• Coinage (noun): The process of making coins; coins collectively.
• Bullion (noun): Gold or silver in bulk before coining, or valued by weight.

Synonyms

• Coin
• Hard currency
• Metallic currency
• Coin of the realm

Antonyms

• Paper money
• Banknotes
• Fiat currency
• Credit

Học thuật

Noun

1. coins collectively

Từ đồng nghĩa

• coinage
• mintage
• metal money