circulating medium

American  

noun

1. any coin or note passing, without endorsement, as a medium of exchange.

2. such coins or notes collectively.

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circulating medium British  

noun

1. finance currency serving as a medium of exchange

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Etymology

Origin of circulating medium

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

Taking it in connection with the combination of corporations, and Wall street brokers, the prospect of having coin as a circulating medium is but faint, if it is ever possible.

From Monopolies and the People by Cloud, D. C.

It thus appears that this people must have had a circulating medium in the shape of gold coin.

From Equatorial America Descriptive of a Visit to St. Thomas, Martinique, Barbadoes, and the Principal Capitals of South America by Ballou, Maturin Murray

Indeed, they are used as a kind of circulating medium.

From Sketches of Reforms and Reformers, of Great Britain and Ireland by Stanton, Henry B.

The history of all commercial countries shows that the precious metals can constitute but a small part of this circulating medium.

From The Works of Daniel Webster, Volume 1 by Webster, Daniel

Showing the radical deficiency of the present circulating medium and the advantages of a free currency.

From Anarchism by Eltzbacher, Paul