agio

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The premium or percentage on a better sort of money when it is given in exchange for an inferior sort. The premium or discount on foreign bills of exchange is sometimes called agio.

   1989, Isaac Levy, translator, The Pentateuch (translation of, Samson Raphael Hirsch, Der Pentateuch, ubersetzt und erlautert), second edition, volume 2, Exodus, Judaica Press, →ISBN, page 582 (commentary to Exodus 30:16), Owing to the enormous number of half-shekel coins required each year in Adar, these were greatly in demand, and the money-changers made a small fixed charge of an agio for changing whole into half shekels.

2. 2
   noun

   a fee charged for exchanging currencies

Borrowed from Italian aggio.

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