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A comprehensive list of global currency symbols used to denote monetary values, such as the dollar sign "$", the pound sign "£", and the euro sign "€". Find the symbol, code, font, and name of every currency in the world.
The dollar sign ($) is a symbol for various currencies, especially the US dollar, derived from the Spanish peso. Learn about its origin, variants, and alternative theories from this Wikipedia article.
6 days ago · Learn the origins and stories behind some of the most popular currency symbols, such as $, €, and £, and how they reflect the cultures and histories of different countries. Find out the list of currency symbols for various global currencies and their roles in the global economy.
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Also known as: $
Written and fact-checked byThe Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
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Outside of currency, the dollar sign is used as a common sigil (symbol for a variable) in many computer programming languages, including Beginner’s All-Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code (BASIC) and several scripting languages such as Perl. In BASIC, the symbol is suffixed to a variable representing an array, or collection, of strings; in scripting ...
The origin of the dollar sign is a matter of debate. The most widely circulated theory asserts that it originated as a symbol representing the Spanish milled dollar (also called peso). After the United States gained independence in the late 18th century, it created a new currency based on Spanish coinage, the most common coin in circulation in the colonies. The United States’ first dollar coins, minted in silver in 1794, not only took their name from the Spanish dollar but also borrowed the Spanish dollar’s weight and value. Because of the close connection between the two currencies, it is likely that if a symbol existed for the Spanish dollar before 1794, it would have been used for the U.S. dollar. The earliest known occurrence of a dollar sign in print, however, was in 1797.
According to a related theory, the symbol stems from an abbreviation of peso as Ps. The strongest support for this theory comes from a 1778 invoice handwritten by Oliver Pollock, a financier of the American Revolution, in which the P in the Ps abbreviation appears to be superimposed on the s, thereby bisecting it. Despite the resemblance between Oliver Pollock’s handwriting and the dollar sign, however, there remains little evidence to suggest such a symbol was in contemporary usage or that Pollock’s possible slip caught on.
Another theory relates to the origin of the Spanish dollar itself. When Spain underwent a coinage reform in 1497, the dollar was introduced as Spain’s unit of currency. Its full name was peso de ocho reales (or “piece of 8 reales”), and, as its name suggests, it was worth 8 units of the real, the former standard. Some have therefore speculated that the $ symbol arose as a stylistic variation on the Arabic numeral 8, although no documents have surfaced that demonstrate 8 being used to symbolize the Spanish dollar.
The peso originated during the reign of Ferdinand II of Aragon (1479–1516), and some see a resemblance between one of his royal symbols, which was cast on the bill, and the dollar sign. After Ferdinand’s forces gained control over the Strait of Gibraltar, he added to his coat of arms two columns representing the Pillars of Heracles, wrapped with a ribbon. Many people suggest that the bar in the dollar sign resembles one of the pillars, while the S looks like the ribbon. There is little evidence, however, to indicate that the dollar sign came from the $-like representation of the pillars on the Spanish dollar.
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A currency symbol or sign is a graphic symbol used to denote a currency unit. Learn about the history, usage, design and list of currency symbols currently in use.
Mar 19, 2024 · The most common currency symbols. The dollar sign ($) is arguably the most recognizable currency symbol globally. It has a rich history, with various theories on its origin. Some believe it evolved from the Spanish “pieces of eight,” while others suggest it is a stylized “U” and “S” combined.
Nov 28, 2012 · Learn how the dollar sign ($) originated from the Spanish peso abbreviation or the U.S. initials, according to different theories. The web page also explains the symbol's usage and meaning in American culture.
