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

The agio, how kept at a medium rate, ib.

From An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations by Garnier, Germain

In so far as substitution is possible, there is no room for an agio.

From The Value of Money by Anderson, Benjamin M.

Paper money passes without fight or agio upon the prices demanded.

From From the Oak to the Olive A Plain record of a Pleasant Journey by Howe, Julia Ward

The scarcity is so great, that the agio of the bank, which is commonly at four or five per cent, fell to one and a half.

From The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution Volume 7. by Various

An agio of coin over uncoined bullion may easily appear.

From The Value of Money by Anderson, Benjamin M.