agio

American  

[aj-ee-oh] / ˈædʒ iˌoʊ /

noun

agios plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• agios
  plural

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

See Examples For:

agio agios

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

From The Value of Money by Anderson, Benjamin M.

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

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

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

From The Value of Money by Anderson, Benjamin M.

The premium or discount on foreign bills of exchange is sometimes called agio.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary by Webster, Noah

It was wonderful to hear him talk about millions, and agios, and discounts, and what Rothschild was doing, and Baring Brothers.

From Vanity Fair by Thackeray, William Makepeace