5. Current value; general estimation; the rate at which anything is generally valued.
He . . . takes greatness of kingdoms according to their bulk and currency, and not after intrinsic value.
Bacon.
The bare name of Englishman . . . too often gave a transient currency to the worthless and ungrateful.
W. Irving.
Cur"rent (k?r"rent), a. [OE. currant, OF. curant, corant, p. pr. of curre, corre, F. courre, courir, to run, from L. currere; perh. akin to E. horse. Cf. Course, Concur, Courant, Coranto.] 1. Running or moving rapidly. [Archaic]
Like the current fire, that renneth
Upon a cord.
Gower.
To chase a creature that was current then
In these wild woods, the hart with golden horns.
Tennyson.