'Currency' is Latin for 'running' — money that circulates, flowing from hand to hand.
A system of money in general use in a particular country; the fact or quality of being generally accepted or in common use.
From Medieval Latin 'currentia' (a flowing, a running), from Latin 'currens,' present participle of 'currere' (to run, to flow), from PIE *kers- (to run). The metaphor is ancient and striking: money is called currency because it 'runs' through an economy, flowing from hand to hand like water through channels. The same PIE root *kers- produced Latin 'cursus' (course, running), 'curriculum
Money is called 'currency' because it 'runs' through the economy — from Latin 'currere' (to run). The same root gives us 'current' (a river running), 'courier' (a runner), 'cursor' (a runner on a screen), and 'car' (via Latin 'carrus,' a wheeled runner). When economists say 'currency flows,' they are