fractional currency

American  

noun

1. coins or paper money of a smaller denomination than the basic monetary unit.

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fractional currency British  

noun

1. paper or metal money of smaller denomination than the standard monetary unit

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Etymology

Origin of fractional currency

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fractional currency

The half dollar, the quarter dollar, and the dime, for fractional currency, are proportional parts of 385.8 grains of silver nine-tenths fine.

From Rural Health and Welfare by Fairchild, George Thompson

Under the proposed measure," he said, "authority is specifically asked to withdraw the fractional currency and legal-tender notes, in whole or in part, and to substitute bonds for them.

From Twenty Years of Congress, Volume 2 From Lincoln to Garfield, with a Review of the Events Which Led to the Political Revolution of 1860 by Blaine, James Gillespie

In 1855 he issued and redeemed fractional currency.

From Fifty Years In The Northwest With An Introduction And Appendix Containing Reminiscences, Incidents And Notes by Folsom, William Henry Carman

Now and then, when he could wheedle some fractional currency out of Margaret, he spent it like a crown-prince at The Wee Drop around the corner.

From A Rivermouth Romance by Aldrich, Thomas Bailey

This bill proposes to restore the old silver dollar, and with it and the subsidiary coins of the United States to redeem the United States notes and fractional currency.

From Recollections of Forty Years in the House, Senate and Cabinet An Autobiography. by Sherman, John