The profit which results from the difference between the cost of making coins and currency and the exchange value of coin and currency in the market
{i} tax or levy imposed by a sovereign; charge imposed on metal bullion brought to a mint to be coined (during the Middle Ages)
The profit that results from the difference in the cost of printing money and the face value of that money
A share of the receipts of a business taken in payment for the use of a right, as a copyright or a patent
the profit earned by central banks from issuing notes It arises because the nominal value of notes is substantially greater than their cost of production (chapter 10)
The difference between the circulating value of legal tender and its worth in a free market
Something claimed or taken by virtue of sovereign prerogative; specifically, a charge or toll deducted from bullion brought to a mint to be coined; the difference between the cost of a mass of bullion and the value as money of the pieces coined from it
The difference, which may be positive or negative, between the face value of specie (coin), silver or gold certificates, or fiat money and its commodity value in a free market
The difference between the face value of money and the cost of printing or minting the money Seigniorage represents a benefit to the government that comes from its authority to create money
The gain to the government from the difference between the face value of minted coins put into circulation and the cost of producing them (including the cost of the metal used in the coins) Seigniorage is considered a means of financing and is not included in the budget totals See means of financing [Back to top]
Charge over and above the expenses of coinage that is deducted from the bullion brought to a mint to be coined. From early times, coinage was the prerogative of kings, who prescribed the amount they were to receive as seigniorage. This was sometimes compensated for by replacing part of the gold or silver with base metal, resulting in debased coinage. In England all such charges were abolished in 1666. Because coins are now issued only as token money, they no longer need to possess a high intrinsic value, and low-standard silver or base-metal alloys are sufficient. The margin between the cost of producing a coin and its currency value is known as seigniorage