Coining a Phrase (in the original sense) Really Awfully Profoundly.

Head of a coin showing it to have been minted in 1985 in a country under the sovereignty of Queen Elizabeth.

Most look at one side of a coin,

And flipping it over don’t try;

It is most distinctly annoying

They never the obverse will spy.

Tail of the coin, with the leek and coronet (taking a leek through a coronet indicates disrespect for royalty?) showing it to be Welsh, and revealing the value as one pound (£1).

Though those viewing both sides are better,

And think, thus, all bets they will hedge,

If intellect they would unfetter,

Those seeking third side have the edge.

The motto PLEIDIOL WYF I’M GWLAD found around the rim is Welsh meaning ‘True am I to my country’. Set in a milled edge, this is the most difficult part to forge, and is therefore the best test against a counterfeit. Thus those viewing it have the edge over those who simply examine head and tail.

(Explanatory Note: Originally, ‘coin a phrase’ meant to invent a new witty combination of words.  It was only later that it took on its ironic meaning of acknowledging the repetition of a cliché, or a trite or well-worn saying. For example, I might say of this rhyme, ‘To coin a phrase, there’s many a true word spoken in jest.’ I would hardly be inventing the ‘true word’ saying – a version of it was known to Chaucer, so it dates at least as far back as the 1300s. I would, however, be acknowledging that it has been used by writers including Shakespeare and almost every Thomasina, Richard and Harriet since.  However, my variation on Tom, Dick and Harry – another cliché – might go towards coining a phrase in the initial sense. Or I could coin a completely new phrase by basing my invention on the bible, with ‘used by everyone from Aaron to Zuzims since’.)

© August 2016 Colonialist (WordPress)