[ 'seɪnjərɪdʒ ]
(also seignorage )
■ noun
1》 profit made by a government by issuing currency, especially the difference between the face value of coins and their production costs.
↘ historical the Crown's right to a percentage on bullion brought to a mint for coining.
2》 historical a thing claimed by a sovereign or feudal superior as a prerogative.
Origin
ME: from OFr. seignorage , from seigneur (see seigneur ).