Token money


In economics, Token money, or Token, is money that has little intrinsic value compared to its face value. Unlike fiat money, which also has little intrinsic value, it is limited legal tender. It does not have free coinage.

History

distinguished between tokens and commodities.
In the early nineteenth century, David Ricardo suggested issuing token money as long as it did not affect commodity standard.

Physical tokens

Token money has less commodity value compared to its face value. If the token money is metallic it is commonly made out of cheaper metals such as copper and nickel.
Token money is also money whose face value exceeds its cost of production, i.e. the intrinsic value is lower than the extrinsic value. This means that the actual worth of a note or coin is much less than what we use it for. The cost of production of token money is less than its actual value, for example with convertible currency, collector notes, souvenirs, coupons, some retired US banknotes and per 1986 banknotes printed in regulation size and only on one side with authorization are actually worth more dollars than when issued.
With token money, exchanges are not considered fully complete because the exchange of value is not equivalent. Value is hoped to be rendered at some future time. Examples of this include bills of exchange or negotiable instrument and certificates.
Token money does not have free coinage.

Legal

Token money may be representative money, as well as having nominal value; that is, its owner has a legal claim to a fixed amount of a commodity that has intrinsic value.