[f. as prec. + -ENCY.]
† 1. The fact or condition of flowing, flow; course; concr. a current, stream. Obs. rare.
1657. Howell, Londinop., 18. To preserve the currency of the stream.
1698. Tyson, in Phil. Trans., XX. 135. To shew the Currency of their Canalis here.
1758. Binnell, Descr. Thames, 11. The Currency runs … with such Force, as to render the Navigation thereof imperfect.
† b. ‘Fluency; readiness of utterance; easiness of pronunciation’ (J.). Obs.
c. Running, rapid motion. (nonce-use.)
1841. L. Hunt, Seer, II. (1864), 69. We are truly in a state of transition,—of currency rather [in a coach].
2. The course (of time); the time during which anything is current.
1726. Ayliffe, Parergon, 196. The Currency of Time to establish a Custom, ought to be with a Continuando from the beginning to the end of the Term.
1822–56. De Quincey, Confess., Wks. 1862, I. 288. She might be in the currency of her eighth year.
1846. M’Culloch, Acc. Brit. Empire (1854), I. 465. During the entire currency of the lease.
1850. Tait’s Mag., XVII. 4/1. Must his exclusion run only during the currency of other parts of his sentence?
3. Of money: The fact or quality of being current or passing from man to man as a medium of exchange; circulation. Also fig.
1699. Locke, 2nd Reply to Bp. of Worcester (R.). ’Tis the receiving of them by others, their very passing, that gives them their authority and currency.
1722. Lond. Gaz., No. 6078/2. All such of the said Bills … lose their Currency.
1729. Pope, Dunc., I. 23, note. The papers of Drapier against the currency of Wood’s copper coin in Ireland.
1862. Ruskin, Munera P. (1880), 15. The laws of currency and exchange.
4. That which is current as a medium of exchange; the circulating medium (whether coins or notes); the money of a country in actual use.
1729. Franklin, Ess., Wks. 1840, II. 270. Money … by being coined is made a currency.
1776. Adam Smith, W. N., II. ii. (1869), I. 328. The paper currencies of North America.
1861. Goschen, For. Exch., 58. If there is a large paper currency side by side with the gold.
1866. Crump, Banking, vii. 154. The currencies of two countries … being dissimilar.
fig. 1806–7. J. Beresford, Miseries Hum. Life (1826), III. v. General Miseries—the common currency of human existence.
1879. T. H. S. Escott, England, II. 425. Their mischievous influences upon the moral currency.
b. spec. Applied to a current medium of exchange when differing in value from the money of account; e.g., the former currency and banco of Hamburg (see BANCO), the depreciated paper currency of various countries, and the local shillings and pence, of less value than sterling money formerly used in various British colonies.
1755. Johnson, Currency … 6. The papers stamped in the English colonies by authority, and passing for money.
1776. Adam Smith, W. N., I. viii. (1869), I. 73. In the province of New York common labourers earn three shillings and sixpence currency.
1872. Japanese in Amer., 201. Paper money … is also called currency.
fig. 1837. J. D. Lang, N. S. Wales, I. 220. Contests … between the colonial youth and natives of England, or, to use the phrase of the colony, between currency and sterling.
1892. Lentzner, Australian Word-bk., 19. Currency, persons born in Australia, natives of England being termed ‘sterling.’
5. The fact or quality of being current, prevalent, or generally reported and accepted among mankind; prevalence, vogue; esp. of ideas, reports, etc.
1722. Lond. Gaz., No. 6077/2. The Currency of the ordinary Distempers.
1798. Ferriar, Cert. Varieties Man, 213. The story … seems to have gained currency.
1840. Carlyle, Heroes (1858), 321. Johnson’s Writings, which once had such currency and celebrity, are now as it were disowned by the young generation.
1862. H. Spencer, First Princ., II. iv. § 53. The currency of this belief continues.
6. attrib. and Comb. (mostly in senses 3 and 4.)
1816. Keatinge, Trav. (1817), II. 178. Currency-money here has depreciated … a full third.
1849. Miss Mulock, Ogilvies, 17. He is … particularly well read on the currency question.
1866. Crump, Banking, viii. 160. The great advantage of coined money for currency purposes.
1885. Pall Mall Gaz., 9 June, 5/2. America is a wonderful country, and has shown itself able to do strange things in the way of currency-mongering.
