Seigniorage is a somewhat tricky word to spell, but it's actually fairly straightforward if you break it down phonetically. The word is pronounced "SEEN-yer-ij," with the stress on the second syllable. The first syllable is pronounced like "seen" (as in "I have seen that movie before"), the second syllable is pronounced like "yer" (as in "your"), and the final syllable is pronounced like "ij" (as in "age"). So, to spell this word: S-E-I-G-N-I-O-R-A-G-E.
Seigniorage refers to the profits or revenue earned by the government when it issues currency. It is the difference between the cost of producing and distributing money and the actual value of that money in circulation. In other words, it is the profit gained by the government from creating money.
Governments have the authority to print or mint money and determine its value, allowing them to earn seigniorage. This profit is derived from the face value of the currency, which tends to be higher than its actual production cost. For example, if it costs a government 10 cents to produce a dollar bill or coin, then the seigniorage would be the 90 cents difference.
Seigniorage can be considered a form of revenue for the government, as it effectively increases the money supply without incurring any debt. It is often used to finance government expenses or reduce budget deficits. However, excessive seigniorage can lead to inflation as the increased money supply can reduce the value of a currency.
In addition to direct production costs, seigniorage can also be affected by factors such as counterfeiting and money replacement costs. The advancement of digital currencies and alternative payment systems has also raised questions about the future of seigniorage in an increasingly cashless society.
A charge levied on bullion brought by private individuals to the mint to be coined, which is effected by giving back rather less in coin than was received in bullion, only sufficient in amount to cover the expense-in England the coin age of bullion is generally done at the public expense, but there is a large seigniorage levied on silver and copper currencies; formerly a specific tax on bullion as well as on silver and copper coinage, forming a branch of the royal revenue; acknowledgment of power.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "seigniorage" derives from the Old French term "seigneuriage", which can be traced back to the Late Latin word "senioraticum". In medieval times, seigniorage referred to the right or privilege of a lord or seignior to coin money within their domain. The term gradually evolved to capture the profit or revenue gained from the difference between the face value of a coin and its production cost. The English word "seigniorage" entered usage in the early 16th century, borrowed directly from Old French.