noun
or sei·gnor·age also sei·gneur·age -rij, -rēj
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English seigneurage, from Middle French, right of the lord, especially to coin money, from seigneur + -age
1. : a government revenue derived from the manufacture of coins that is calculated in the United States as the difference between the monetary and the bullion value of the silver contained in silver coins disregarding any alloy metal, all the metals contained in minor coins (as the nickel and the cent), or the silver bullion that is held as backing for silver certificates — compare brassage
2. archaic : dominion , power