What Is a Currency Symbol?
A currency symbol is a graphical representation that denotes the name of a currency. The symbol is usually, but not always, unique to a specific country or region. These shorthand currency identifiersoften appearinstead of formal currency names in international and domestic markets.
Dollar Sign
The U.S. dollar (USD) uses the $ symbol to represent a dollar amount. However, other countries also use $ to represent their currencies. To clear up any confusion, the symbol may include a country prefix—e.g., US$ for U.S. dollars.
Key Takeaways
- Major currencies often have a unique symbol attached to them. This helps graphically show that a number represents a specific currency amount.
- Some countries use the same currency symbol. The $ symbol is used by many countries. To avoid confusion, other letters help distinguish which country’s currency is represented, such as C$ for Canadian dollars.
- Because not every currency has its own symbol, each currency has its own currency code, such as EUR for euros. These codes are maintained by the International Organization for Standardization.
Understanding the Currency Symbol
A currency symbol next to a number shows the number is a monetary amount. Many of the symbols for the most frequently written and traded currencies have symbols with a basis on the Roman alphabet. The use of slashes and crossbars helps to differentiate letters from currency symbols.
Currencies that have their own symbolgive the impression of being more stable and havinga higher status. Some currencies, such as the U.S. dollar (USD) and the British pound sterling (GBP), have become instantly recognizable around the world by their currency symbol.
The GBP uses the designation£ for the pound, and the USD uses the $ symbol to represent a dollar amount, although other countries also use $ to represent their currencies. If the currency type is in question, the symbol may include a country prefix, such as CA$, Can$, or C$ for Canadian dollars, or US$ for U.S. dollars.
The € symbol is used to represent the euro currency, ¥ represents the Japanese yen, and ƒ signifies a florin, such as the Aruban florin.
Artistic Design of Currency Symbols
In 2009, the Indian government aimed to raise the status of its currency, the rupee, by assigning it a currency symbol. The Indian Ministry of Finance announced it would accept idea submissions from the public, adding that the submitted symbols should represent the historical and cultural ethos of the country. The winning design, ₹, was introduced by Udaya Kumar Dharmalingam, a professor of design at India’s Institute of Technology Guwahati.
Many view the symbol for the euro, €,as a design and public relations success. The logo has become recognizable around the world. However, peopledispute who the actual designer of the symbol was. The European Commission won’t divulge the name of the designer. Many assume Belgian graphic designer Alain Billiet is responsible, but Arthur Eisenmenger, a former chief graphic designer for the European Economic Community, claims the idea was his.
All the Dollar Symbols in the World
The dollar symbol, $, is perhaps the most recognizable in the world, and is used by more than 20 countries around the globe, including the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Hong Kong. The word “dollar” can be traced back to Bohemia in the 16th century, when people used itto describe money in many places throughout Europe, including Spain.
Other countries that use the dollar symbol, $, in some form include Argentina, the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Fiji, Liberia, Namibia, and Singapore, along with several others.
As indicated above, a letter or series of letters is often added before or after the dollar symbol to help specify what currency is being discussed. For example, NT$ represents New Taiwan dollars, and $U means Uruguay dollars.
History of the British Pound Currency Symbol
The British pound sterling, symbolized by £, was the currency that dominated the global economy before the U.S. dollar. The symbol for the pound sterling resembles a capital “L” because of the Latin word “libra,” which means scales or balance. Libra now means a unit of weight equivalent to 12 ounces.
Monetary nomenclature is often related to weights and measurements, as well as precious metals like gold or silver. The original value of the pound sterling was against silver. During the reign of King Henry I, the majority of issued coins were 92.5% silver, which is a purity grade known today as sterling silver.
Currency Symbols vs. Currency Codes
When looking up a currency quote, currency codes are typically used instead of symbols. For example, the euro is represented by the letters EUR. This is because each currency has its own currency code, but not every currency has its own currency symbol. Currency codes are maintained by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Currency prices are always quoted in pairs—the value of one currency relative to another—and they use currency codes. For example, the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Canadian dollar is represented by USD/CAD. If the rate is 1.35, it costs $1.35 Canadian to buy US$1.
If looking for an exchange rate between the euro and the USD, that would be represented by EUR/USD. If the rate is 1.15, that means it costs US$1.15 to buy €1.
Is There a Generic Symbol for Currency?
Yes. The currency symbol ¤ is used to denote an unspecified currency. The sign, first introduced in 1972, represents a circle the size of a lowercase character with four short radiating arms. This currency symbol is also known as scarab.
Who Designed the Dollar Sign?
Although the origins of the dollar sign remain uncertain, some historians have attributed it to Oliver Pollock, a wealthy Irish trader and supporter of the American Revolution. In his correspondence back in 1778, he used the abbreviation “ps,” sometimes run together.
Where Do You Place the Currency Symbol?
It depends on where you are and the currency you are using. In most non-English-speaking European countries, the currency symbol follows the amount and is preceded by a space (as in “5 €”), whereas in English-speaking countries, the currency symbol comes before the amount and there is no space (as in “$5”).
The Bottom Line
A currency symbol is a graphic representation that denotes a currency unit. These signs are often used instead of currency names in international and domestic markets. Some currency symbols are instantly recognizable around the world, like $ for the dollar, £ for the British pound, € for the euro, and ¥ for the Japanese yen.
