---
entity_slug: bank_of_england_coinage_burden
evaluator: null
evaluated_at: '2026-02-23T00:48:28.890224'
overall_score: 4.0
scores:
- name: definition_precision
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The definition clearly identifies a specific economic burden (disproportionate
    coinage costs) borne by a particular institution (Bank of England) with a proposed
    solution (seignorage). It captures a distinct institutional cost allocation problem
    rather than a vague concept.
- name: source_grounding
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This appears well-grounded in Smith's actual discussion of the Bank of
    England's role in bringing bullion to the mint and bearing coinage costs in Book
    IV, Chapter 6. The connection to seignorage as a solution also aligns with Smith's
    monetary analysis.
- name: domain_placement
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: '"Regulation" is the correct domain placement as this concerns institutional
    arrangements, cost allocation rules, and policy mechanisms (seignorage) governing
    monetary operations. It''s fundamentally about regulatory structure rather than
    pure market operations.'
- name: vsm_relevance
  value: 3.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This maps reasonably to S3 (internal regulation) as it concerns cost
    allocation and institutional burden-sharing within the monetary system. However,
    it's somewhat narrow and specific, making it less central to VSM analysis than
    broader systemic functions.
- name: explanatory_value
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This illuminates an important structural mechanism in monetary systems
    - how institutional arrangements can create unequal cost burdens and how policy
    tools (seignorage) can address these imbalances. It reveals underlying economic
    relationships rather than just naming a surface phenomenon.
---

# Evaluation: Bank Of England Coinage Burden

## definition_precision — 4.0 / 5.0

The definition clearly identifies a specific economic burden (disproportionate coinage costs) borne by a particular institution (Bank of England) with a proposed solution (seignorage). It captures a distinct institutional cost allocation problem rather than a vague concept.

## source_grounding — 4.0 / 5.0

This appears well-grounded in Smith's actual discussion of the Bank of England's role in bringing bullion to the mint and bearing coinage costs in Book IV, Chapter 6. The connection to seignorage as a solution also aligns with Smith's monetary analysis.

## domain_placement — 5.0 / 5.0

"Regulation" is the correct domain placement as this concerns institutional arrangements, cost allocation rules, and policy mechanisms (seignorage) governing monetary operations. It's fundamentally about regulatory structure rather than pure market operations.

## vsm_relevance — 3.0 / 5.0

This maps reasonably to S3 (internal regulation) as it concerns cost allocation and institutional burden-sharing within the monetary system. However, it's somewhat narrow and specific, making it less central to VSM analysis than broader systemic functions.

## explanatory_value — 4.0 / 5.0

This illuminates an important structural mechanism in monetary systems - how institutional arrangements can create unequal cost burdens and how policy tools (seignorage) can address these imbalances. It reveals underlying economic relationships rather than just naming a surface phenomenon.
