I Need A Lesson In Disme Enunciation

Pawn Stars is on in the background. A fellow brings in a 1792 half disme (yum)..... They are discussing the piece and both are calling the disme pronounced as diz-me..... All my fifty year collecting career, I believed the enunciation was simply dime, just as we say today..... Did Rick just teach me something?

 

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As I understand it, it's just pronounced "dime".

 

Mirriam Webster says it's pronounced " ˈdīm "

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disme

 

Who cares what Rick thinks! The usage, both in spelling and pronunciation, is obsolete.

 

Of course it isn't used for modern coins.

But, when you're talking about a 1792 disme, you should know how to pronounce it. There a lot of obsolete denominations that we as collectors should be aware of.

 

Disme is an obsolete 18th century French word from the latin Decimus, meaning a tenth, a tenth part or tithe

 

I have read in several reliable sources that "disme" was pronounced in the 18th century as "dime".

 

That’s the way I see it..... If I am on the bourse and I want to see a dealers half disme, I want to appear that I know what I am talking about...... Last time I went to a show I had a Feuchtwanger cent on my list. I imposed on a friend of mine that teaches German to give me a lesson in how to properly pronounce Feuchtwanger before I went.

 

Don't leave me in suspese! How do you prronounce "Feuchtwanger"?

 

LOL.... Foicht-Vanger..

 

Most online dictionaries have a button where you can listen to someone say the word: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/feuchtwanger

 

I recall reading that the Mint used the spelling “disme” into the mid-1830s. I call 10 cent coins made mid-1830s and earlier “dimes,” so I’m okay with pronouncing “disme” as “dime” (even if it’s wrong).

 

German is tough. I always get a kick out of the song Fraulein. Most singers, even German groups, pronounce it a Frau-Line. It is in fact Froy-lyne. I had to negotiate too many German relatives as a child.

 

Considering how staged that show is, they do research on the items before filming, so he probably got the pronunciation from some online dictionary, or a cast member.

 

I have learned two new words in this discussion. I love to learn new words!

 

Prithee, discourse upon the novel texts which enable the articulation of your verbosity?

 

So what is the French pronunciation and was that used in the early US?
Some say "deem", according to google.

 

I have heard that before.

Maybe we should summon @johnmilton - and he can show us his example while he's at it.

 

I have also heard that it should be pronounced "deem." I had a chance to buy a nice one a few years back, but I didn't have 20K lying around...

 

Verily and forsooth mine uncle to wit, upon rejoindering the coin merchant regading his wares my recently acquired wits may bid me say "Sir, it strains mine eyes to view your puny half-dimes for they are so shiny and small. Pray show me your Feuchtwanger post haste."