---
entity_slug: mint_price_versus_market_price_relationship
evaluator: null
evaluated_at: '2026-02-23T05:53:18.471242'
overall_score: 4.6
scores:
- name: definition_precision
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The definition clearly distinguishes between mint price and market price
    while identifying specific factors that cause divergence (currency degradation,
    transportation costs, market conditions). It avoids circularity and captures a
    distinct economic relationship rather than a vague concept.
- name: source_grounding
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity is directly grounded in Smith's analysis in Book IV, Chapter
    6, where he explicitly examines the relationship between mint and market prices
    of bullion. The concept of price divergence due to currency degradation is a central
    theme in Smith's monetary analysis.
- name: domain_placement
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The "Exchange" domain is perfectly appropriate for this entity, as it
    deals with the fundamental mechanics of how official and market valuations of
    money interact. This is core exchange theory examining price formation mechanisms.
- name: vsm_relevance
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity maps well to S4 (intelligence/environmental adaptation) as
    it represents a feedback mechanism that reveals information about monetary system
    health and market conditions. It could also relate to S3 (internal regulation)
    as a monitoring function for currency stability.
- name: explanatory_value
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity provides significant explanatory power by illuminating how
    monetary systems function and reveal their own health through price relationships.
    It explains a fundamental mechanism for understanding currency stability and market
    efficiency rather than merely naming a surface phenomenon.
---

# Evaluation: Mint Price Versus Market Price Relationship

## definition_precision — 4.0 / 5.0

The definition clearly distinguishes between mint price and market price while identifying specific factors that cause divergence (currency degradation, transportation costs, market conditions). It avoids circularity and captures a distinct economic relationship rather than a vague concept.

## source_grounding — 5.0 / 5.0

This entity is directly grounded in Smith's analysis in Book IV, Chapter 6, where he explicitly examines the relationship between mint and market prices of bullion. The concept of price divergence due to currency degradation is a central theme in Smith's monetary analysis.

## domain_placement — 5.0 / 5.0

The "Exchange" domain is perfectly appropriate for this entity, as it deals with the fundamental mechanics of how official and market valuations of money interact. This is core exchange theory examining price formation mechanisms.

## vsm_relevance — 4.0 / 5.0

This entity maps well to S4 (intelligence/environmental adaptation) as it represents a feedback mechanism that reveals information about monetary system health and market conditions. It could also relate to S3 (internal regulation) as a monitoring function for currency stability.

## explanatory_value — 5.0 / 5.0

This entity provides significant explanatory power by illuminating how monetary systems function and reveal their own health through price relationships. It explains a fundamental mechanism for understanding currency stability and market efficiency rather than merely naming a surface phenomenon.
