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Dollar Sign
DOLLAR SIGNDOLLAR SIGN. Popular belief often ascribes the origin of the dollar sign ($) to a mark on government mail-bags standing for U.S., or Uncle Sam. Another common story claims that the symbol represents the pillars of Hercules on the Spanish dollar. A third explanation for its origin identifies it as a conversion of the old Spanish symbol for the Spanish dollar. Most probably, however, the dollar sign is a conventionalized combination of the letters p and s for pesos. As early as 1788, a government clerk used such a mark, and the present symbol came into general use shortly after that time. NeilCarothers/a. e. See alsoCurrency and Coinage ; Money ; Treasury, Department of the . |
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Cite this article
"Dollar Sign." Dictionary of American History. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Dollar Sign." Dictionary of American History. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3401801250.html "Dollar Sign." Dictionary of American History. 2003. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3401801250.html |
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dollar sign
dol·lar sign (also dollar mark) • n. the sign $, representing a dollar. |
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Cite this article
"dollar sign." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "dollar sign." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-dollarsign.html "dollar sign." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-dollarsign.html |
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