fractional currency
- noun
- /ˈfrækʃənl ˈkɜrənsi/
- Archaic
:
moneda fraccionaria
- The government introduced fractional currency during the coin shortage in the 19th century.
Examples
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The shop accepted fractional currency for small purchases.
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Collectors often seek rare notes of fractional currency from the Civil War era.
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Because coins were scarce, stores began accepting fractional currency as payment for goods.
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Many collectors seek rare fractional currencies from the past.
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The store accepted fractional currency for small purchases, allowing customers to use paper money that was not in standard denominations.
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During the Civil War, the government issued fractional currency to address the shortage of coins and ensure people had access to smaller amounts of money.
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Business owners often preferred fractional currency because it made transactions easier by providing denominations less than one dollar.
How Common
433
1.2
- Specialized
7
4.1
- Specialized
- Archaic
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'fractional' (relating to fractions or smaller denominations) modifies 'currency' (money), yielding 'money in small denominations'. A B1 learner who knows both constituent words can reliably infer this sense, even if the term is slightly specialized or historical in usage.
Etymology
Fractional currency comes from the idea of money made in small pieces: fractional means a 'fraction' or small part of the main currency unit, and governments once made small notes to use instead of coins when coins were rare. So, fractional currency means 'small-value' notes or coins worth less than the basic unit of money.