Crossword Genius

Common fee is what coals do? (5,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

going rate

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'what coals do?' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I can't tell whether it can be defined by this definition.

'common fee' is the wordplay.
'common' becomes 'going' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'fee' becomes 'rate' (I've seen this in other clues).
'going'+'rate'='GOING RATE'

'is' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for going rate that I've seen is " Prevailing price".)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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