Definition

1. Noun:
   • The profit or revenue a government earns by issuing currency: Specifically, the difference between the face value of coins or banknotes and the cost of producing and distributing them. Historically, it referred to the charge or fee levied by a ruler (seignior) for minting bullion into coinage.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The government's seigniorage from issuing new coins helped fund public projects.
  • Historically, seigniorage was a significant source of revenue for monarchs.

Advanced Usage

• "Earn seigniorage": To gain revenue from the issuance of money.
  • Central banks can earn seigniorage by putting new currency into circulation.
• "Seigniorage income": Revenue derived from the power to issue money.
  • The country's budget benefited from substantial seigniorage income during the economic expansion.

Variants and Related Words

• Seignior (n, archaic): A feudal lord; the origin of the term, referring to one who had the right to mint coins.
• Seigniorial (adj): Pertaining to a seignior or feudal lord.

Synonyms

• Mintage profit: Profit from minting coins.
• Currency issuance profit: Revenue from issuing currency.

Related Phrases

(This term is a specific economic/financial noun and does not commonly form phrasal verbs or idioms.)

Noun

1. charged by a government for coining bullion