What is the origin of the dollar sign ($)?

Asked Oct 6, 2013· 1 answer ·United States, United States Dollar
Faisal KhanAnswered Oct 6, 2013
The Dollar sign first shows up in some very early American and Spanish business correspondence (around the 1770s). The exact reason why it is $ - is still a matter of much debate and controversy.

Three great articles to read on this are:

  • The Dollar Mark and the Story of Its Origin - NYT Article - http://query.nytimes.com/mem/arc... (PDF)
  • Where Do Currency Symbols Come From? - Slate Magazine: http://www.slate.com/articles/ne...
  • Wikipedia - The Dollar Sign - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dol...
Financial HistoryHistory of MoneyEconomic HistoryHistory of Payment Systems United StatesUnited States Dollar
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