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seigniorage

or seign·or·age

[ seen-yer-ij ]

noun

  1. something claimed by a sovereign or superior as a prerogative.
  2. a charge on bullion brought to the mint to be coined.
  3. the difference between the cost of the bullion plus minting expenses and the value as money of the pieces coined, constituting a source of government revenue.


seigniorage

/ ˈseɪnjərɪdʒ /

noun

  1. something claimed by a sovereign or superior as a prerogative, right, or due
  2. a fee payable to a government for coining bullion
  3. the difference in value between the cost of bullion and the face value of the coin made from it


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Word History and Origins

Origin of seigniorage1

1400–50; late Middle English seigneurage < Middle French seignorage, seigneurage; seigneur, -age

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Example Sentences

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a seigniorage tax?

All commodities of export would fall in price at once, or fail to rise, to the extent of the seigniorage.

Now the immediate effect of a seigniorage would be, as Professor Fisher points out, a readjustment of the par of foreign exchange.

It is on this principle that paper money circulates; the whole charge for paper money may be considered a seigniorage.

Seigniorage is the right the ruler or state has to charge for coinage, or it is the charge made for coinage.

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