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The curious origin of the dollar symbol

Few symbols can be both hated and loved at the same time, like the dollar. The classic "$" engraved on every banknote and currency in the United States seems to It goes beyond its own borders, and it is almost like that logo that symbolizes money itself universally.However, although in Lifestyle we already speak to you at the time of all the associated symbology to the dollar bill, this time we want to discover the origin of the symbol itself, you know...that «S» in capital letters crossed by two vertical stripes.

We are sure that your story, to those who do not know it already, will surprise you.

The curious origin of the dollar symbol

We will begin clarifying that in reality, there is no totally clear conclusion about the origin of the dollar symbol.Now, most consider its Spanish origin acceptable, and even the Bureau of Engraving and Printing Zion of the United States , so he supports it.

But Why exactly Spanish? Where does that "$" come from? For experts, it is actually an abbreviation of Spanish piasters, pieces of eight, or real silver, that is «Ps». It is known for example that when the dollar symbol was adopted in In 1785, the currency of Spanish origin also circulated throughout the country, and that on paper, instead of writing «Ps», S S itself overlapped the P.In fact, in various manuscripts of the eighteenth centuries and XIX, this curious evolution was seen until finally the well-known «$» symbol was left. So, there was a time when could be paid with either of the two currencies , and when this payment was reflected, it was done with this symbol.

The curious origin of the dollar symbol

However, we have yet to add another curious possibility as to why of those two vertical bars. These real Spanish silver cir culaban as we know all over the United States, but it was precisely in the first mint of all America, in the "Ceca de Mexico", where that nuance was first seen.put those two vertical strips in the bullion and coins? Basically, what they wanted was to represent the Columns of Hercules (the Gigstad Strait) along with the legend "Plus Ultra", and which in the past used to be associated with in turn as the last point in the known world.

These Spanish silver reals were used both in Spain and in the United States, until, as we know, in 1857 when their use was banned .However, since in the War of Independence there was a lack of national currency, the Spanish reals were used once again, which, in addition, had better silver quality.In the end, it was associated in the currency itself American the symbol that the Spanish silver reals wore.A curious history that is taken for granted, and that the unstoppable advance of history, the economy and society itself, have caused the roots of why many of the everyday things.

The curious origin of the dollar symbol

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Image: Graciela Vicente

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