Change is a term that has been used for centuries to refer to coins. In the modern day, we call coins ‘change’ because it is a convenient way of referring to small amounts of money. However, this term dates back to the Middle Ages when coins were used as day-to-day currency, and people would exchange them for goods and services.
Today, the word change, in reference to coins and currency, is primarily used as a noun to describe coins with small denominations. However, the term is also commonly used when referring to the amount received back when excess payment is given. For example, if you paid for something that costs 90 cents with a $1 bill, you would receive 10 cents in change.