# mint condition

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/mint-condition
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

The condition of newness or perfection, as if just freshly minted.

## Examples

- He keeps his old comic books in mint condition.
- She always keeps her guitar in mint condition.
- This used sofa looks like it is in mint condition.
- The collector was happy to find the vintage watch in mint condition after all these years.
- I managed to sell my old smartphone for a high price because I kept it in mint condition using a sturdy case.
- The library stores these hundred-year-old maps in a temperature-controlled room to ensure they stay in mint condition.
- You can tell the previous tenants were very careful because the entire apartment is still in mint condition.
- Despite being manufactured over half a century ago, the rare automobile remained in mint condition, preserved meticulously by its original owner.

## Origin

Attested from 1897, the phrase originates in the specialised terminology of numismatists. It describes the state of a coin recently struck at a mint and reflects the exact appearance of the piece as it left the factory, prior to the degradation of circulation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.