Likenesses on newly minted coins (5)
I believe the answer is:
icons
'likenesses' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'newly minted coins' is the wordplay.
'newly minted' indicates an anagram (mint can mean to forge or create in a factory).
'coins' is an anagram of 'ICONS'.
'on' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for icons that I've seen before include "revered art" , "Sacred paintings or computer screen symbols" , "Religious pictures" , "Coins forming pointers on computer screens" , "Celebrities" .)