agio

American  

[aj-ee-oh] / ˈædʒ iˌoʊ /

noun

plural

agios

1. a premium on money in exchange.

2. an allowance for the difference in value of two currencies.

3. an allowance given or taken on bills of exchange from other countries, as to balance exchange expenses.

4. agiotage.

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agio British  

/ ˈædʒɪəʊ /

noun

1. 1. the difference between the nominal and actual values of a currency

   2. the charge payable for conversion of the less valuable currency

2. a percentage payable for the exchange of one currency into another

3. an allowance granted to compensate for differences in currency values, as on foreign bills of exchange

4. an informal word for agiotage

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Etymology

Origin of agio

1675–85; < Italian a ( g ) gio exchange, premium, ultimately < Medieval Greek allágion, derivative of Greek allágē literally, change, barter; compare Venetian azo, Medieval Latin lazius

Example Sentences

Whoever wished to make a present to a godchild, or to pay foreign tradesmen, had to give an increasing agio for his old pure Joachim's thaler.

From Pictures of German Life in the XVth XVIth and XVIIth Centuries, Vol. II. by Freytag, Gustav

This idea forms the complement of the idea of an agio, involved in the issue of fractional coins on a lower standard or basis than that of the greater specie.

From The History of Currency, 1252 to 1896 by Shaw, William Arthur

But an agio on coined over uncoined metal is quite possible, and has frequently occurred.

From The Value of Money by Anderson, Benjamin M.

An agio of coin over uncoined bullion may easily appear.

From The Value of Money by Anderson, Benjamin M.

In either case, there will be temporary emergencies, when panics arise, when legal tender money gets an agio over any possible substitute.

From The Value of Money by Anderson, Benjamin M.