# money monikers **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 31, 2003, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/money-monikers/192156 "2003-07-31T16:00:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Destination\_Unknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@Destination\_Unknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Destination_Unknown)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/money-monikers/192156/1 "2003-07-31T16:00:12Z")
why is a $10 bill called a “sawbuck”? ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/money-monikers/192156/2 "2003-07-31T16:10:11Z")
From [m-w.com](http://m-w.com) Main Entry: saw·buck Pronunciation: 'so-"b&k Function: noun Date: 1850 1 slang : a 10-dollar bill 2 : SAWHORSE; especially : one with X-shaped ends Sounds kinda strange, though. Apparently since an “X” is the Roman numberal “10,” and a sawhorse is decussate in nature, someone started calling the 10-dollar bill a sawbuck. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/money-monikers/192156/3 "2003-07-31T16:11:44Z")
The most common story has it that the Roman numeral for ten, X, looks like a sawbuck seen “in profile.”