Coffers

A coffer is a sturdy box or chest used to store valuables such as money, coins, jewelry, documents, or other important items. Historically coffers were portable and often made of wood or metal, fitted with hinges, a lock, and protective bands. The plural term coffers can refer to multiple chests or, more figuratively, to a source of financial resources for an individual, household, organization, or government.

The word derives from Old French coffre, from Latin cophinus meaning basket. Coffers have appeared in many cultures and periods, notably in households, merchant establishments, churches, ships, and governmental settings, where heavy, secure chests safeguarded valuables and records. In modern usage, the phrase “state coffers” or “the coffers” denotes a treasury or fund of money available to an institution.

In architecture, a related term refers to recessed panels in ceilings or vaults. A coffered ceiling consists of a grid of sunken panels (coffers) that decorate the surface and can reduce weight on the structure.

In contemporary usage, coffers retain a metaphorical sense. “To replenish the coffers” or “to fill the coffers” is a common way to discuss increases in financial resources, such as government revenue or corporate profits, while “drawing from the coffers” can refer to spending from those funds.