What is Currency?

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  • Written By: Sheri Cyprus
  • Edited By: Bronwyn Harris
  • Last Modified Date: 21 January 2017
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Currency is the means of purchasing through trade. Today, the term generally refers to printed or minted money. Sometimes, only paper bills are thought of as currency, while other times coins are included. It involves the exchange of goods or services for cash.

Exchange rates refer to a country's price for the trade of items. Floating currency means that a country's exchange rate is not fixed or set in place by a main bank, but fluctuates. Fixed currency, on the other hand, is set; it is also called pegged currency. This form is not commonly used, although it is often associated with the Euro and the US Dollar (USD).

The term legal tender means currency that is legally permitted to be used to obtain goods or services in a particular country. Legal tender is usually the country's own unit of currency, such as the US Dollar in the United States, but sometimes a country may use the unit of another country as legal tender. For example, the United States once used silver coins from Spain and Mexico as legal tender. These pre-Revolutionary War silver dollars are also known as pieces of eight.


Before cash was used, other items considered valuable were used in trade exchanges. For instance, Aztecs in the 14th century used cocoa beans to trade for tools and clothing. Gold dust was traded for European goods in some African countries in the 17th century. Salt was used in many ancient civilizations, and is actually the basis for the English word salary.

Currency conversion, or foreign exchange rate, means the conversion of one country's currency units into the value of another country. Most countries convert monies from other countries into their legal tender and the exchange rates depend on the current market. For example $5.00 USD may convert to 590.256 Japanese Yen, depending on the rate of foreign exchange on that particular day.

Current exchange rates are called spot exchange rates. Exchange rates that are set for future transactions are quoted at a forward exchange trading rate. Currency is exchanged, or liquefied, daily in the extensive financial marketplace that is the global foreign exchange.


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Post 7

What would happen if there were no currency?

Post 6

Here is my currency question: What currency is represented by the symbol J?

EX: J2,000,000. Is this bogus or valid?

Post 5

I think it's cool to watch the progression of the Euro currency. I know that some people don't like it, and it certainly has its ups and downs, but I know it makes traveling in Europe more convenient.

On the other hand, I really did like the uniqueness of all the different coins. Although it was a pain to convert currency between countries, it was still so interesting to see the different designs and stamps of each type.

Not to mention the fact that they make great souvenirs!

Post 4

That's pretty cool about the different things that have been used for currency throughout the years.

I guess it just comes down to what the society values.

What does it say about our society that we value tiny bits of paper? I don't know...I think I might fit in better with the Aztecs trading cocoa beans.

Post 3

I always have the worst trouble calculating currency exchange rates.

My husband and I travel, and I always have to have him be my on the spot "currency calculator".

I can never keep up with it. All that foreign currency just looks like Monopoly money to me -- it's so pretty that I almost don't want to spend it!

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